Now is the time to find your favourite slow cooked meals or soups. I have added some recipes that are on high rotation at our house at the moment. Bone Broth is a staple and can be added as a base to soup, stews, curry, Laksa or add some spices and drink during your breaks replacing tea and coffee.
Immune vitality - your best defence against the seasons
Are you someone that gets sick every change of season?Or if you've come in contact with someone that is ill?
By strengthening and optimising your immune system now you can start to break the cycle and let your immune system ward off all that you come in contact with.
Immune Hacks
Washing your hands regularly helps to stop the spread of infections
If you have gut issues chances are this has slowly chipped away at your immune system - good gut health creates a great defence
Arm yourself with supportive nutrients to create an armour against those bad bugs!
Come and have an immune assessment to stay on top of winter pathogens.
Autumn Newsletter May 2019
How do I know if I have an iodine deficiency?
A person may have low iodine levels without showing symptoms. One of the most reliable way to check your iodine intake is to ask your Naturopath to order a urine test. Your naturopath may also use a blood test to ensure that your thyroid hormone levels are normal.
The most visible consequence of iodine deficiency can be a goitre or enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre can be difficult to detect in the early stages, especially in children. An ultrasound is the best method to measure the size, shape and texture of the thyroid.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism – which can be related to low iodine levels or other forms of ‘underactive’ thyroid disease – include:
Lethargy and tiredness, muscular weakness and constant fatigue
Feeling cold (even on warm days)
Difficulty concentrating, slowed mental processes and poor memory
Unusual weight gain
Depression
Thick puffy skin or puffiness of the face
Hair loss
Dry Skin
Constipation
Weak, slow heart beat
Enlarged thyroid or goitre
If you are experiencing any of the above - Contact Clinic today to order your Iodine test
M: 0433048430 or Book online
Detoxification & Energised!
Giving back some love for you liver - post festive season 2019
If you’ve over indulged over the festive season – you’re liver has had a workout during this time. As the liver is the body’s main detoxifier it is responsible for processing everything that you consume. Now is the perfect time to give your liver a little extra love.
Benefits of Liver detoxification support
· More energy and feeling lighter
· Improved digestion function and metabolism reset
· Weight loss as a side effect – the liver is the also the body’s fat pump
· Clear headed with improved clarity
· Brighter and clearer skin
In support of liver detoxification –I will advise an individual supported 30-day reset diet that is rich in antioxidants, non-processed foods and low/no sugar.
Specific supplements are often prescribed alongside liver detoxification to promote safe and effective elimination of toxins. With the right supplements the side effects of detoxification may be minimised and will pass quickly.
Book an appointment today to get started on a healthier lifestyle in 2019!
St Mary’s – milk thistle
A traditional herb used to support the elimination of toxins that are processed in the liver. The active constituent of St Mary’s silymarin has been found to strengthen the cell walls in the liver by supporting normal elimination processes it protects, detoxifies and regenerates healthy liver cells.
* When deciding if a specific supplement is right for you always discuss with your health practitioner the risks and benefits with medication interactions and taking different supplements throughout different life stages, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do you suffer from bloating, pain and excessive gas? You could be experiencing symptoms of dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis doesn’t just cause bloating it can be responsible for initiating and becoming the underlying cause in many chronic conditions such as allergy/intolerance presentations, autoimmune diseases and obesity.
In identifying Dysbiosis as a possible underlying issue to many health conditions – a quick checklist may highlight areas to consider:
· Do you have a history with extensive antibiotic use - more than 4 times a year?
· Have you taken synthetic hormonal replacement therapies or oral contraceptive pill during the last 5 years?
· Do you take regular medications either prescribed or over the counter? Including panadol, Ibuprofen, aspirin or NSAID’s ?
· Does your diet include a large portion of refined sugars and carbohydrates/starchy food groups?
· Do you have a high alcohol intake? More than 4 drinks weekly?
· Do you drink soft drinks regularly or other high sugar containing beverages?
If you have answered “Yes” to the above and are experiencing bloating, pain and gas often – book today to help rebalance your gut microflora before it robs you of vitality and reduces your capacity to absorb essential nutrients from your diet.
Feed your Microbiome! Why is it so important?
If you were requested to write down all the plant based foods that you ate over one week, how many different varieties would you be able to list? Most of us would achieve around 15-20 at the most........
To adequately feed our indigenous gut bacteria, we need to constantly consume a wide diverse range of plant based foods into our diet. Probiotics and gut guru Jason Hawrelak recommends at least 40 different varieties are required every week to maintain a happy and healthy microbiome. If the diet is not varied with diversity we run the risk of losing bacteria diversity and causing bacterial imbalances that leave us prone to opportunistic gut pathogens.
It is a long standing traditional Naturopathic belief that all disease begins in the gut and now in more recent times there is a large body of scientific research to support this statement. A disrupted microbiome that leads to dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria) can be linked to diseases throughout each system of the body including: the brain, immune system, liver, kidneys and bone joints.
As part of a treatment plan - diet, exercise, stress management and sleep become vital in supporting an optimal microbiome. In addition core natural medicine remedies guided by an experienced health professional - Naturopath to support overall host health can positively affect microbiome health.
Feed your Microbiome! Why is it so important?
If you were requested to write down all the plant based foods that you ate over one week, how many different varieties would you be able to list? Most of us would achieve around 15-20 at the most........
To adequately feed our indigenous gut bacteria, we need to constantly consume a wide diverse range of plant based foods into our diet. Probiotics and gut guru Jason Hawrelak recommends at least 40 different varieties are required every week to maintain a happy and healthy microbiome. If the diet is not varied with diversity we run the risk of losing bacteria diversity and causing bacterial imbalances that leave us prone to opportunistic gut pathogens.
It is a long standing traditional Naturopathic belief that all disease begins in the gut and now in more recent times there is a large body of scientific research to support this statement. A disrupted microbiome that leads to dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria) can be linked to diseases throughout each system of the body including: the brain, immune system, liver, kidneys and bone joints.
As part of a treatment plan - diet, exercise, stress management and sleep become vital in supporting an optimal microbiome. In addition core natural medicine remedies guided by an experienced health professional - Naturopath to support overall host health can positively affect microbiome health.
Menopause Early!
- Through clinical and personal experience I am encountering more and more women suffering the signs and symptoms of menopause under the age of 45. When signs and symptoms present alongside hormonal dysfunction before the age of 40 this is termed premature ovarian failure and will be investigated further, however over the age of 40 it will be considered the beginning of peri/menopause. Some of the presenting signs and symptoms associated with peri/menopause:
- irregular menstrual cycles with lengthy durations between cycles or cessation longer than 12 months
- headaches low/no sex drive fatigue
- low energy foggy head irritable
- weight gain hair loss infertility
- hot flushes
- feelings of being overwhelmed and emotional and or new presentations of anxiety
Some women will have a familial history of early onset menopause, although there are some other aspects that should be considered with premature hormonal dysfunction.
- high stress loads on both physical and mental planes
- excessive exercise, adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism
- exposure to environmental hormone disruptors contained in plastics, foods, cosmetics
- Diet and lifestyle factors - poor diet choices, high refined foods, excessive smoking and drinking of alcohol
In addressing some of the factors to premature menopause - we also need to acknowledge women are now being exposed to health conditions in earlier age groups, rather than being protected by optimal hormones well into their 50’s. Some of these conditions involve:
- Bone Density loss leading to Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular conditions
If you have identified with the above or know someone that is experiencing early menopause signs and symptoms make contact today and book an appointment (skype available) to address underlying causes, support and manage symptoms and initiate long term risk prevention.
Nicola Pilon Naturopath - 0433048430
Fertility management
Managing infertility/fertility with Natural Medicine
What is a “normal” cycle?
By tracking your cycle length, basal metabolic temperature, flow, presenting pain and other premenstrual symptoms we can gain great insights into reproductive health, from here we can begin to support and re-establish regular period patterns aiming for optimal reproductive health.
The usual range for a menstrual cycle is between 21-35 days, and is used as guide only, however anything outside this range may reflect signs of sub-optimal functioning, and should be discussed and reviewed in cases of poor nutrition status, high levels of stress, abnormal body weight (height to weight ratio) and poor liver clearance all which may disrupt optimal reproductive functioning.
Similar to tracking your cycle length, with guidance from your naturopath you can track your own ovulation via a special technique involving observational cervical signs. Not only is this technique empowering to all women it provides us with knowledge of our most fertile time – important for when the aim is for conception or alternatively when used appropriately as part of a contraception plan.
To find out what your “normal” cycle is speak to one of our qualified Naturopaths to assist you in getting to know your body and cycle better today.