Metabolic health Archives - Whole Naturopathy

How to look after your liver

December 5, 2024

Your liver is one of the major detoxification organs in your body. But not only does it work in detoxification, it also plays an important role in hormone regulation and blood glucose metabolism. It’s commonly known that too much alcohol is bad for your liver. But did you know that overeating, too much sugar or white flour products, as well as prescription medications (and recreational drugs) can increase the detoxification load of the liver? Some common signs of reduced liver function: Fatigue (especially after lunch or mid-afternoon) Brain fog Headaches Nausea Irritability, frustration, or anger Dry skin The good news is that the liver is an organ that can repair itself (at least at this point), and there are lots of simple things you can do to help...

A by-product of sugar can reduce sugar cravings

December 4, 2024

Metabolic health, Nutrition

I find it so interesting that one of the minerals that is removed from the sugar cane as it is processed is the same mineral that helps prevent sugar cravings, which is just another reminder that we should be eating foods in their natural form. When sugar is made When white sugar us made, the juice from the sugar cane is stripped of all its nutrients so that we're left with just the simple carbohydrate. Raw sugar has a tiny bit added back in and brown sugar a little bit more. The problem here is that if the nutrients were never removed, we wouldn't be constantly craving the sugar, so let’s look at adding them back into our diet. Molasses Blackstrap molasses, or simply molasses as it's known in...

Lose weight with intermittent fasting

December 4, 2024

Metabolic health, Nutrition, Weight loss

Intermittent fasting is where you use fasting for part of the day, rather than a longer term fast. It’s actually something we do each day, we finish eating at the end of the day and then we don’t eat again until breakfast (when we ‘break’ the ‘fast’). With the exception of small babies who need to eat around the clock, your body stores energy to keep you going through the night without any food. Digestion time It takes 5 hours to digest a meal, sometimes longer if it was a large meal, so what we generally do is space our meals that far apart to ensure we have a regular supply of energy throughout the day. Then overnight, your body use stores from the liver which last...

If weight loss is a simple formula, why do we struggle?

December 3, 2024

Lifestyle, Metabolic health, Nutrition, Weight loss

Part of it is due to poor diet advice. To some extent it is because sugar is highly addictive, as well as the fact that eating can be strongly driven my emotions. We’re all basically wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure. After all, to some degree, it keeps us alive. If we’re used to short-term gratification, then why wouldn’t we go for chips and donuts rather than kale and hemp seeds (Ok, so I don’t eat kale or hemp seeds all that often 😊). Rather than first focusing on your diet failure, let’s look at what’s going on at a deeper level. Are you stressed and your brain is looking for quick fuel? Are you sad and memories of cake or lollies remind you of happier...

The importance of diet in controlling diabetes and insulin resistance

3 foods to avoid for diabetes

August 3, 2024

Lifestyle, Metabolic health, Nutrition

Did you know that some foods can be keeping your blood sugars in the diabetic range, and contributing to the disease, whilst there are others that can help to balance your blood sugar? Here is an explanation of what each of the foods are and why they make a difference to your diabetes. The principles here are aimed at type 2 diabetes, but should also be helpful in type 1, gestational diabetes, and insulin resistance (or prediabetes). Before I get into the details, make sure that your diabetes is being monitored by a doctor and if you do make changes to your diet, be sure to monitor your glucose levels, so that your blood sugars stay within the safe range. Firstly, we need to start with an understanding...

PCOS – Not as simple as you may have thought

May 1, 2024

Metabolic health, Women's health

Overview of the disease Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder caused by androgen excess. Androgens are male hormones which can be characterised by significant facial hair and seen in hormonal blood tests. Because the disease can present very differently amongst women, there can be a lot of confusion about what the best treatment to bring these high androgen levels back within their normal range. The disease is characterised by hormonal imbalance, irregular menstruation (often months without a cycle), and sometimes the presence of small cysts on the ovaries. According to Dr. Lara Briden, there are four types of PCOS: insulin-resistant PCOS, inflammatory PCOS, post-pill PCOS, and adrenal PCOS. Insulin resistant PCOS Insulin resistance, leading to hyperinsulinemia can cause the increase in androgen production by the...

Nutritional support for alcoholic fatty liver disease

What is Fatty Liver Disease?

March 3, 2024

Lifestyle, Metabolic health, Nutrition, Weight loss

Historically, Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) was associated with excessive alcohol consumption, but now has evolved into two distinct categories: Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Next month, I’ll delve into NAFLD, but for now, here’s the breakdown of ALFD. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) AFLD was first seen in prolonged alcohol abuse, where the liver struggles to metabolise the excessive intake of alcohol. This led to the accumulation of fat, impairing liver function and paving the way for inflammation. This is diagnosed with a blood test, but usually if you have FLD, you will find that you don’t metabolise alcohol well and will take a longer time to recover after drinking than your friends, or than you used to. You may also...

Beat the Sugar Cravings

February 4, 2024

Lifestyle, Metabolic health, Weight loss

Maybe it’s too many parties over Christmas and New Year, or maybe you’ve been struggling with this for a while. One thing for sure is that sugar is addictive, and it can be really hard to say no. Sugar addiction Have you ever noticed the difference between your cravings for sugar compared to naturally sweet products? The sugar craving seems to be insatiable, whilst with honey or dried fruit, you get to a point where you just don’t enjoy it anymore and so you stop eating it. This is because sugar has been stripped of the vitamins and minerals found in natural sugar cane which means you not only miss out on those nutrients, but you also miss out on the natural mechanism that helps you to...

Cholesterol – friend or foe?

November 1, 2023

Metabolic health, Nutrition

Cholesterol plays a vital role in our bodies, serving as an essential part of our cell membranes and helping to regulate various bodily functions. It acts like a building material, providing structural integrity to cell walls and allowing them to function properly. Additionally, cholesterol is essential for the production of hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D, which control various bodily processes, including growth and reproduction. So, without cholesterol, our cells would not be able to maintain their integrity, and we wouldn't have the necessary hormones to keep our bodies functioning correctly. HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) and LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) are two types of cholesterol carriers in your bloodstream, each with distinct roles, and are seen as the following. HDL cholesterol is often called...

Don’t just lose weight for the summer, lose it for life!

October 4, 2023

Health, Metabolic health, Motivation, Nutrition, Weight loss

So often the quick fix, magic bullet answers also have a quick undo, or just can’t be sustained long term. In terms of health, a slow steady change that lasts is much better than a quick fix that doesn’t. So often people go on very restrictive or low-calorie diets and whilst the number on the scales may look great for a little while, it’s not something that works long-term. One of the first changes that can make a big difference, not only to weight loss, but also to all areas of health, is to increase your protein intake. Protein is required for repair of all cells in your body, and low protein meals can leave you feeling hungry afterwards. Try to have some protein with every...

Metabolic health

How to look after your liver

A by-product of sugar can reduce sugar cravings

Lose weight with intermittent fasting

If weight loss is a simple formula, why do we struggle?

3 foods to avoid for diabetes

PCOS – Not as simple as you may have thought

What is Fatty Liver Disease?

Beat the Sugar Cravings

Cholesterol – friend or foe?

Don’t just lose weight for the summer, lose it for life!

Trouble getting your iron levels within range?

Springtime allergies

Vitamin D for a strong immune system

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