We’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 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 MoreOver the last few decades, we have all become much more open to educating ourselves on our health. From natural remedies to the art of mindfulness, there has been a movement away from the need for synthetic medications, and the adoption of a more holistic approach to our health.
With more options available today for healthcare than ever before, and sometimes a blur between the lines in what each of them do, I’m here to demystify and dive into the main differences between two commonly confused professions - naturopaths and dietitians.
So. Let’s sharp-shoot summarise what they do, why and when you should see them, and how they can help you on your journey towards better health.
Read MoreOne 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 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 MoreThere 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 MoreDo you get a flushed face when you drink red wine? Do you suffer from unexplainable head aches or anxiety? Maybe you get an itchy tongue or flu like symptoms after eating certain foods?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have histamine intolerance.
Read MoreWhat is mindful eating?
Mindful eating is about being present in the moment when eating and enjoying the meal before you. Its also about listening to your bodies cues in respect to hunger, satiety and taste. It involves:
Sitting when eating a meal
Slowing your pace when eating, taking smaller bites, chewing for longer and taking breaks between bites.
Eating away from distraction such as television, phones or the computer.
Listening to your bodies hunger and full signalling and letting these cues guide your decision making on when to begin and finish eating.
Choosing foods that are both pleasurable to eat and which nourish your body.
Eating with all of your senses; taste, smell, touch, sight and feel.
Being aware of the effect the food you eat is having on your body. Do you respond well or do you experience burping, bloating, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea?
Being aware of emotional eating patterns
Knowing and having respect for where your food comes from.
So why should we all be eating mindfully?
Read MoreYou have most likely heard of the Gut brain Axis, referring to the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (brain) and the enteric nervous system (gut), linking emotional and cognitive centres of the brain with peripheral intestinal function. But do you know much about the Vagus nerve that’s responsible for connecting them?
The vagus nerve aka the “wandering nerve” is a multi branched nerve that extends from the cerebellum in the brain down to the lowest viscera of the abdomen, reaching out to the heart and other organs on the way down. It is this nerve that is responsible for the communication between the gut and the brain.
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