We all want to wake up and feel beautiful, radiant and confident in our own skin. While we should be able to do this without a second thought, regardless of colour or texture, sometimes underlying conditions or shifts in the body can get in the way of our beautiful glow and spirit.
Read MoreThere is a strong connection between the thyroid and gut health. Studies have shown that low thyroid hormone production can lead to leaky gut and impaired digestive health can impair thyroid function. Optimal digestion supports a reduction in the antibodies associated with autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's and Graves.
Read MoreUnderstand the complexities of a condition known as SIBO and how it can be a driving factor in thyroid conditions.
Read MoreWe’re all trying our best to live clean, green lives. It’s one thing that we know is beneficial for our overall health. Only, these days the world we live in makes it harder to escape them. Environmental toxin exposure is concerning; from the food we eat and the water we drink to the products we clean our bodies and homes with. More often than not they’re laden with high doses of toxins that have devastating effects on our health in the long-run.
Read MoreThe thyroid gland is a powerhouse in the human body. But because a lot of it’s magic happens behind the scenes in the endocrine (hormonal) system, when things go wrong they can be hard to pick up on. There are a few telltale signs that we tend to think nothing of, but when they begin to arise collectively (or sometimes on their own), they begin to point to a thyroid problem.
Read MoreIn today's day and age we are working longer hours, not getting enough sleep and turning to coffee and sugar to push through the exhaustion. Only to wake up the next day and do it all over again. This my friend, is a recipe for burnout.
Burnout otherwise known as adrenal fatigue, is a chronic negative response caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion and occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to cope with the constant demands of life.
Read MoreAcne is a condition that is commonly thought of as a condition only affecting adolescents. However up to 51% of women between the ages 20-29 and 26% of women between 40-49 also suffer from this condition.
Acne is caused by multiple factors such as increased sebum secretion, inflammation, follicular keratinization, and Propionibacterium acnes. For many women, acne can be a debilitating condition that can have a huge impact on mental wellbeing.
The pathogenesis of acne in adult women can be quite complex and isn't always due to hormonal imbalances. So I am going to share with you the top contributing factors to be aware of.
Read MoreYou may have heard of a particular nutritional “fad” at present called seed cycling to promote healthy hormones. This is certainly something I get asked about often in my practice.
So I thought I would share with you exactly what seed cycling is, what the research says, how to implement seed cycling and what to expect when you do.
Read MoreAs a naturopath, I see a lot of women and their partners looking for a quick and easy way to enhance and better their chances for fertility. Unfortunately, the bad news is there’s no ‘quick fix’. But the good news? There are a number of ways to increase your chances of falling pregnant.
It’s important to understand that every single aspect of the body is connected, and oftentimes in the most unexpected of ways. From our diets and the stress we feel at work, to the environment we live our day to day lives in, every part of our lifestyle has a fundamental effect on our wellbeing.
But with so much confusing or conflicting information in the health industry today, how can you be sure you’re doing the right thing, especially when it comes to preparing your body for pregnancy?
Let me show you five ways you can enhance your fertility and overall wellbeing by making a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle:
One of the most common questions I receive on a day-to-day basis is this: Why do so many of us still suffer from breakouts as adults? And what foods should we avoid to prevent acne?
I get it. Because nothing wreaks havoc on our confidence quite like having bad skin.
While hormones and stress are certainly the top factors that throw off the normal balance of your skin, the food we eat, and our diet can also have a massive impact on the appearance of acne. After all, as the saying goes – true beauty begins from the inside, out.
So in this blog, I’m going to dive into the 4 foods that are most likely to aggravate your skin and clear up the ever-muddy waters related to what we put in our bodies and highlight how you can best align your diet with the overall health of your skin.
Read MorePremenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common health condition experienced by up to 75% of women of reproductive age. PMS is a group of symptoms, both physical and emotional, experienced by a woman in the two weeks leading up to menstruation, also known as the luteal phase. With symptoms usually subsiding shortly after menstruation begins.
In some cases PMS can develop into premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a more severe form of PMS, effecting about 3-6 % of women. PMDD be so debilitating that it impacts one's quality of life. Women who have had major depression are more at risk than others to experience PMDD.
Read MoreYou might be surprised to learn that there is more than just one type of oestrogen.
Oestrogens are a group of steroid hormones produced in various organs (not just the ovaries) and the level of these oestrogens change throughout life and in physiological and pathological conditions.
While oestrogen is typically thought of as a female hormone, it is produced by males also. In women, this group of sex hormones are responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts, endometrium, and regulation of the menstrual cycle.
Within the oestrogen hormone family, there are three main forms to focus on:
Read MoreIt’s the beginning of the year and as we all settling back into work and life the pressures and stress can begin to creep up again.
Female reproductive health is an area I work a lot with in clinic and a very common theme with many of my clients is the impact stress has on the female reproductive system.
Before we get into how stress impacts sex hormones I really want to get to the core of what stress is and how it can present itself.
Stress is defined as “a state in which homeostasis is threatened or perceived to be threatened.”
Read MoreDid you spend your childhood like most of us in the backyard or local swimming pool?
I remember growing up spending most mornings & afternoons at swimming training. But did you know Chlorine can be detrimental to thyroid health?
Read MoreHaving a hard time waking up in the morning? Feel like you only had 2 hours sleep when you had 8?
Sleep issues are one of the most common symptoms of thyroid disorders, resulting in up to 30% of cases.
Both hypo and hyperthyroidism can result in disrupted sleep and insomnia. The catch 22? Good quality sleep is vitally important for thyroid patients to help combat fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms.
So what easy streps can be taken to start improving sleep? Here are a few recommendations.
Magnesium is one of my favourite nutrients.
I fist became acquainted with magnesium back when I was a first year naturopath student.
I used to consume coffee like it was going out of fashion in order to get me through assignments, deadlines and full time work. Until that is, I learned about magnesium.
You see coffee consumption actually works against the body when we are stressed, not only does it increase the excretion of B vitamins required to help combat stress, but it also triggers cortisol release.
Read MoreStress has become common place in our day to day lives. Whether it be associated with work, money, family, or something else, stress can have a massive impact on our lives.
While short burst of stress are actually good for you, chronic long term stress has been clinically proven to cause a vast array of negative effects on health including thyroid health.
There are many different causes for hair loss through out life, such as post childbirth or through menopause for women and most men will lose some hair by the time they reach adulthood. But while some hair loss is considered normal, excessive prolonged loss is not.
Of the many health conditions that can cause excessive hair loss and thinning, thyroid conditions are one of the most common. Severe and unmanaged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can both result in hair loss, thinning or even balding.
Read MoreThere has been a large shift in the move towards natural medicine in recent times, with 70% of the Australian population having tried some form of complimentary medicine. But while we are seeing this shift, there seems to still be a stigma surrounding naturopathic medicine.
Often when I am asked what I do for a profession, I get a vast array of responses such as "What's that?", "Is that similar to Homeopathy?" and sometimes just an "Oh interesting."
So I thought I would debunk a few of the myths that are often associated with naturopathic medicine.
Read MoreThe essential trace mineral, selenium, is of crucial importance to human health. It is a necessary component of several major metabolic pathways including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense and immune regulation.
While the body requires selenium, it does not produce this mineral, therefore selenium must be obtained through the diet or supplementation.
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