Are you feeling hormonally imbalance but your lab tests are telling you you're in range? You're not alone. The DUTCH test combines the latest in hormonal research with cutting edge technology to bring human beings comprehensive and accurate information about their hormones. People of any gender and sex can do the DUTCH test.
At some point menstruating human beings will experience cyclical symptoms associated with hormonal mood disorders. Often discussed as Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) its big sister premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is often missed, and underdiagnosed. PMDD affects 3-8% of menstruating women (2). It is more severe and disabling than PMS. Let's take a look at what PMDD is and my go to natural treatments.
Taurine is largely known as that ingredient that is in energy drinks and largely flies under the radar of other nutrients when it comes to supplementation. But could this amino acid be one of the most important nutrients to support energy, slowing down ageing, exercise performance and reduce the effects of stress? Click to read more.
Read MoreWhen it comes to fertility we always hope it will be easy. We are biologically made to reproduce after all. However with ever increasing infertility rates we instead need to acknowledge we may require some assistance. In 2022 approximately 1 in 4 New Zealanders experience infertility and 1 in 8 require some form of medical assistance to achieve a pregnancy. Read more to understand how you can naturally increase your chances of conceiving naturally and through assisted reproductive procedures.
Read MoreIn recent years, various fasting protocols have gained popularity for their so called ‘potential health benefits’, including Intermittent Fasting aka time-restricted eating (TRE), fasting, and alternate-day fasting (ADF). While these practices can offer promising results, it is crucial to consider if the research for fasting has been performed on women. Fasting affects women’s hormones and metabolic health profoundly differently to our male counterparts. In this blog post, we will explore the scientific evidence surrounding these fasting patterns and discuss their potential advantages and disadvantages for women. Read on to find out how.
Read MoreFasting is a practice that has been used for 1000’s of years. Millions of people fast around the world every year. When you are wanting to achieve a specific goal through fasting and have no experience with fasting it can be daunting to fast alone or worse in a house where everyone else is eating. What if you could have supervision? Fasting supervision through phone calls and video calls with a practitioner trained in Water Only Fasting can be supportive and increase the benefits of your fast. Read on to find out how.
Read MoreIron deficiency is the most common deficiency for women worldwide (1). Iron deficiency affects 33% of non pregnant women, 40% of pregnant women and 42% of children around the globe (1). Despite global efforts to educate women and eradicate this health issue it is still prevalent (1). So what do you do if you think you have low iron? Read on to learn how you can check your iron stores and your options to increase them if they are low.
Read MoreFor people experiencing Long COVID a phenomenon termed “post-exertional malaise” (PEM) is a common experience (1). This is when you do physical activity, socialize, or perform a mental task and afterwards you have more severe symptoms (2). Many people with Long COVID are taking individual approaches to managing these symptoms including fatigue and ‘brain fog’ while trying to maintain activities of daily living and basic exercise (2). A practice called pacing has been found in research to be an effective way for people experiencing Long COVID symptoms to help manage energy and reduce fatigue.
Read MoreAlmost three years on from the first New Zealand coronavirus cases and across the country there is a subset of patients that sustain an acute SARS CoV-2 infection (1). They develop a wide range of persistent symptoms that do not resolve over many months. This condition has been labelled Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) (1).
Long COVID has been estimated to affect 30% to 45% of populations around the world (2, 3). Due to the majority of the NZ population contracting the virus later than the rest of the world the percentage of the population affected by Long COVID is still emerging.
The estrobolome is an amazing new term used to discuss the intricate connection between our ‘estrogen’ and the ‘microbiome’ . Did you know that down there in your gut little species of bacteria are choosing whether you need more active estrogen or more inactive estrogen? We have known for a few years now how the gut plays a role in our mood and now we know it also plays a role in our hormonal balance.
Read MoreMany of us have learned to “trust our gut.” But if we ask most people what our digestive tract is for, they’ll probably explain it as a way of absorbing nutrients and disposing of waste. So where do phrases such as “trusting our gut” or “unable to stomach the results” come from? It turns out there is a two-way street between our digestive organs and our brains. What we eat and the state of our digestive tract can have a profound impact on our moods and behaviors. And probably unsurprisingly at this point, our gut microbiome is also involved.
Read MoreIt is normal for the liver to contain some fat, but if fat accounts for more than 10% of the liver’s weight, then liver function may be impaired and serious complications may develop. There are many ways we can lean up our liver and get our health back on track through diet, herbs and exercise.
Read MoreIn the last 2 years we have all experienced Crisis in the form of a pandemic. In New Zealand we have seen a significant increase in Depression and Anxiety during this time(1). With women 58% more likely to be affected by depression than men (2). Termed by psychologists as ‘crisis fatigue’, a combination of chronic stress, anxiety, poor behavioral habits and loneliness, this constant state of pandemic alertness has led to to a state of apathy and burnout for many people (1). How is this connected to inflammation?
Read MoreMany people associate having a drink with a feeling of relaxation or a warm ‘buzz’, essentially using alcohol as a means of harmless fun. Whilst one or two glasses of wine, or a few beers, can be a nice way of unwinding, excessive consumption can have a significant impact on your health. So how does alcohol affect your body? Slurred speech, poor coordination, nausea, vomiting, lack of judgment, volatile emotions, and blackouts can all follow excessive alcohol consumption. Most people will have experienced one or more of these effects at some point, crossing the line from a moderate intake to an unhealthy consumption. Unfortunately or fortunately for us women these effects can often happen more quickly and have long term impacts on our hormones and menstrual cycles. Making alcohol my number one red flag when it comes to women hormones imbalances.
Read MoreVitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin. This amazing vitamin is synthesized from sunlight on our skin. In New Zealand with our long summers at our batches, the many days we spend outdoors, and lying on the beach, you wouldn't think we were susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. Commonly I hear from my clients, “I only need to expose myself for 10-20 minutes a day to get my vitamin D, right?” Unfortunately it's just not that simple, as studies estimate that almost half of the population in New Zealand have average vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L classified as a mild deficiency, while 3-4% of people have levels lower than 17.5 nmol/L, classified as a severe deficiency. There are many ways in which you can prevent becoming deficient. Read on to find out how!
If your struggling with period pain, uncomfortable menstrual cramps, or mildly annoying and painful periods each month your not alone. About 50% of all women are struggling with you. In one study in New Zealand half the women reported some dysmenorrhea, and 520 had 'significant period pain (1). It is so common that women often think it’s normal (2) and don’t seek help for it (3). I am here to tell you that pain is never normal, and you don’t have to put up with it! There are effective, natural ways to combat period pain, so you can feel more like yourself all month long.
Read MoreEvading this season’s colds, coughs and flu can feel like an uphill battle through a treacherous warzone. As you forge through uncharted territory, you remain constantly vulnerable to an enemy ambush closing in on you. The same can be said of your body during winter, when it must regularly defend against viruses and bacteria. Poor battle tactics, such as inadequate immune defenses, can increase the chance of viruses and bacteria leading to an infection. Fortunately, arming yourself with tools that enhance your immune response can turn the tables on the enemy and mount a counterattack that could win the war, allowing you to conquer any bugs that may come your way.
Read MoreEvading this season’s colds, coughs and flu can feel like an uphill battle through a treacherous warzone. As you forge through uncharted territory, you remain constantly vulnerable to an enemy ambush closing in on you. The same can be said of your body during winter, when it must regularly defend against viruses and bacteria. Poor battle tactics, such as inadequate immune defenses, can increase the chance of viruses and bacteria leading to an infection. Fortunately, arming yourself with tools that enhance your immune response can turn the tables on the enemy and mount a counterattack that could win the war, allowing you to conquer any bugs that may come your way.
Read MoreSick and tired of being tired and sick? You may want to do some investigating, especially if you are noticing symptoms persisting for longer than a few days. Glandular fever or mononucleosis (mono), often transmitted through saliva, is commonly known as the kissing disease. It is a potentially debilitating illness that is most commonly seen in young adults and adolescents. The most common cause of mono is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Read MoreEating whole food plant based has many benefits. However sometimes finding trusted information for how to do this in pregnancy can be hard. Plant foods provide plenty of vitamins and minerals that keep you feeling healthy, however, like any other diet it requires careful planning to prevent nutritional deficiencies. This is particularly the case during pregnancy, when nutrient requirements skyrocket to support the growth of your baby, making deficiency more likely to occur. The key to a healthy pregnancy is ensuring you have your fill of key nutrients so that you and bub remain healthy and happy.
