Tired of being tired? Everyone experiences tiredness and fatigue at some point. As a Nutritionist, I have patients frequently being fatigued and commenting, “This is normal right?” I find that people just put up with their ongoing feeling of lethargy because we live such busy lifestyles. One thing is certain, people are becoming more tired […]
IBS is one of the most common complaints that I see in my clinic. I would estimate that around 80% of my patients suffer from some type of digestive complaint. IBS can include many different types of digestive symptoms such as bloating or discomfort, abdominal pains, cramping and episodes of diarrhoea and/or constipation. IBS is not a ‘disease’ in itself, more of a label for a set of symptoms. It is said that IBS affects about 20% of the population. Being diagnosed with IBS can be very frustrating, as the cause is often unknown and there is no real medical treatment. It is often put down to stress or anxiety and while this is the case for some, there are many, many other causes that are often overlooked in the medical world. Read more
What is acne?Many people, both men and women, have issues with acne and breakouts. For some it can be hormonal, for others it can be simply due to congestion in the skin glands or it could be due to digestive issues. Acne can be sore, embarrassing and cause you to feel self-conscious but it is not something that you have to put up with as luckily nutritional medicine has a lot to offer to control acne. Read more
Hayfever season has arrived with spring and over the last few weeks I have seen an increase in hayfever in my patients. For most, hayfever is seasonal because spring time means an increase in pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. In some people prone to allergies, their immune system believes pollen is a harmful invader, triggering production of the antibody immunoglobulin E. This encourages the release of histamine, causing inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages, sinus, throat and eyes. Other symptoms of hay fever include excessive mucus production, sneezing, itching nose and throat, watery eyes and a clear, runny nose. Hay fever (sometimes called allergic rhinitis) is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions in this country, affecting around three million Australians. Read more
There are many myths and misconceptions when it comes to weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no single diet that works for all, and no magic pill that can help you lose weight! It takes motivation and dedication to get the weight down. Extremely restrictive diets can damage your health.
Here are my top 10 weight loss myths: Read more
Sports nutrition is a very well researched area and there are very specific ways in which you can change your diet and food timing to improve performance. Nutrition is vital for all areas of health but especially when it comes to improving your physical goals. Much of the guidelines for sports nutrition come to the timing of your food and exercise. Here are a few important rules that can be followed to improve your sports performance. Read more
Childhood can be difficult on the immune system. As kids socialise with other children and often start childcare or school, it may seem like they are constantly sick. It is considered ‘normal’ for a child for suffer from 6-8 colds every year. However, each infection should last no longer than 3-5 days. If your child is suffering from infections that last longer than this, or seems to never fully recover between infections then it’s a good sign that their immune system could do with some support. Read more
Going on a detox is all the rage at the moment and with so many pill, potions and programs available it can be hard to tell the good from the bad. There is juice fasting, vegetable broth detox’s, gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free and wholefood based plans. There are now even various detoxification companies who will deliver your meals for your detox program (and some are pretty good!). You can buy detox kits and as always there are literally thousands of detox supplements available. So how do you find the right solution for you? Read more
Children’s immunity is always something that comes up in the winter. Childhood can be difficult on the immune system. As children socialise with other children and often start childcare or school, it may seem like they are constantly sick. It is considered ‘normal’ for a child for suffer from 6-8 colds every year. However, each infection should last no longer than 3-5 days. If your child is suffering from infections that last longer than this, or seems to never fully recover between infections then it’s a good sign that their immune system could do with some support.
Adrenal fatigue is a condition that many people don’t know about, however, I find myself discussing it with patients almost every day.
‘Stress’ refers to a bunch of biochemical, hormonal, neurological and physical changes that take place in the body when the going gets tough. When we are under increased pressure our adrenal glands (which sit on top of our kidneys) produce cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are responsible for our fight or flight response and ensure that if we are caught in a life or death situation our systems are primed for the effort required. This is all well and good if we are in a life threatening situation but more often than not, we are experiencing non-life threatening stressors daily that have exactly the same effect. Waking up late and rushing to work, getting stuck in traffic, having too much work, running around with kids after school then rushing home to do dinners, washing etc. Read more