Can lowering homocysteine levels naturally reduce heart disease?
In this article, weโll explore what homocysteine is, how it impacts cardiovascular health, and effective strategies to manage elevated levels naturally.
In this article, weโll explore what homocysteine is, how it impacts cardiovascular health, and effective strategies to manage elevated levels naturally.
In the pursuit of personal and professional development, many people focus solely on achieving specific goals or changing their habits. However, this approach often overlooks the most transformative aspect of habit formation: identity.
In this article, weโll explore the role of fasting triglycerides, their connection to cardiovascular health, what optimal levels are and why aiming for those levels is essential.
This article will explore what CRP is, its role in cardiovascular health, the importance of maintaining optimal CRP levels, and lifestyle strategies for managing chronically raised CRP.
Many people set ambitious health goals, losing weight, lowering blood pressure, or reducing stress. While goals provide direction, they often fall short of ensuring lasting change. This article explores why building systems and repeatable habits offer a more sustainable path...
This article will highlight some of the lab tests and factors I look at that go beyond cholesterol, explain common imbalances, and shed light on the lifestyle factors that play a role in cardiovascular health. It’s time to look at...
In this article I want to provide a general breakdown of LADA/Type 1.5 diabetes, so that there is increased awareness around this often overlooked and poorly managed condition.
Seed oils, including those derived from sunflowers, corn, and soybeans, have become dietary staples in modern cooking and food manufacturing. Yet, mounting evidence suggests that these oils may be detrimental to cardiovascular health, particularly through their high levels of omega-6...
Affirmations are often viewed as positive self-talk, a practice that involves repeating uplifting statements to oneself. But there’s more to affirmations than just boosting self-esteem. They have the power to reprogram the subconscious mind, leading to meaningful changes in behaviour.
Exercise is widely recognised for its profound benefits on overall health and well-being. However, what many people may not realise is that acute exercise, especially within 48 hours before a blood test, can significantly impact certain biomarkers, leading to skewed...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) doesnโt wait for retirement or slower days. Itโs the leading cause of death globally, and those over 40 are at an increased risk, especially men. CVD is often a silent, gradual process, and by the time symptoms...
When it comes to cardiovascular health, many of us will be familiar with names like LDL and HDL cholesterol and even perhaps triglycerides, for those with a stronger interest in this subject. However, there is one very important molecule that...
In this article I will be talking about something called Apolipoprotein B or abbreviated as ApoB, which should hopefully help you consolidate your understanding of cholesterol and heart disease.
In this article we dive into a common stool test marker, pancreatic elastase. Firstly, we explore what pancreatic elastase is, typically reference ranges for pancreatic elastase on a stool test and how our team of Nutritionists and Functional Medicine Practitioners...
Have you been told you have high triglyceride levels? Perhaps you want to know what caused it and what you can do to lower your triglycerides. In this article we take a deep dive into what triglycerides are, there relevance...
In this article we look at some common and some less common cardiovascular risk blood test markers that we use in our functional medicine clinic. We discuss what these markers are and provide typical ranges to aim for to help...
In this article we look at interpreting your thyroid hormone blood test results. To do this I break down each individual marker, what it is and why it is tested. Throughout the article we discuss the potential imbalances or patterns...
In this article, we will take a deep dive into a common marker found on comprehensive stool tests, Zonulin. We look at what zonulin is, it’s association to health issues, what it means for your gut health and what can...
In this article, we look at the stool test marker known as calprotectin. We explore what calprotectin is, what it means if your calprotectin levels are elevated and how to interpret your test results. We also look at natural ways...
In this article, we explore the spice turmeric as well as its popular active component, Curcumin. How might turmeric and curcumin benefit your health and is there good evidence behind its use? If it can help, what conditions might it...
In this article, we explore the many causes of constipation and how nutrition, lifestyle and functional medicine can help to alleviate constipation and associated symptoms. We explore the role of lab testing looking for underlying causes as well as supplements...
In this article we are going to look at some research looking at intermittent periods of exercise and its impact on muscle protein synthesis. We also explore other benefits of exercise snacking.
If you are embarking on a weight and fat loss journey and want long-term success, you may be considering what exercise can help you reach you best reach your goals. This article covers the pros and cons of different exercise...
What is hunger? Hunger is a physiological process โ in other words, the physical body is signalling that food needs to be consumed to maintain energy levels. Different chemical substances and signals produced by both the brain and the gut,...
This article explores the popular methods for tracking your nutrition intake: calorie counting, flexible dieting and meal plans and provides some top tips for tracking your nutrition intake. For most people, calorie counting tends to be done on an app...
If you are embarking on a weight and fat loss journey, you are likely wanting to be setting yourself up for success. Research shows that the role of protein within your diet could be one of the most important tools...
Eating foods that are naturally rich in fibre are a corner stone of any successful weight loss journey! This article covers some of the many benefits of fibre, examples of high fibre foods, some tasty meal ideas, as well as...
If you are looking for success in the long term with your weight loss goals, then NEAT is one of the most valuable tools in your toolbox. Read on to find out more about what NEAT is, what happens to...
How do you measure when youโve reached success on your weight loss journey? And how do you know if youโre on the right road to where you want to get to in the meantime? Having clear goals allows you to...
Following weight loss, people on average regain a third of their weight lost within a year and the rest within 3-5 years (Avenell et al. 2004, Dansinger et al. 2007). If you do not want to be one of these...
In this article we provide a basic look at what flexible dieting is and some of the pros and cons to consider.
You may have heard or read that fasted cardio is superior for losing weight and fat and therefore wondered whether this is true. This article provides the science behind fasted cardio and some need to knows and top tips for...
When and how much you eat are important components of setting up a weight loss diet and achieving a calorie deficit. Part of creating a personalised nutrition plan involves establishing meal frequency and timing that is optimal for you. This...
If you are about to embark on a weight loss journey and are wondering about whether exercise can help you lose weight, this article provides you with the research on exercise and weight loss, along with some tips to use...
If you are setting up your diet for weight loss, then you may want to decide how much of each different macronutrient you will consume. Check out How to Calculate Calories to get this sorted first! This article provides a...
In this article we look at five often overlook areas associated to weight loss psychology and how they may be impacting your ability to lose weight and maintain that weight loss.
The quest to lose body fat remains a popular google search and a common reason for people hiring nutritionists, health coaches and personal trainers. Common reasons for this desire to โoptimiseโ body fat levels may be due to health concerns,...
Understanding metabolism is key to managing your energy, weight, health and performance. This article provides a brief overview of what metabolism is, five facts on metabolism and five tips to optimise yours!
Phase angle is one of the markers we assess as part of our body composition assessments with clients and available as a standalone service.
If youโve been considering when to start that resistance training programme and / or pondering over whether muscle mass really is that important, then this article is for you โ it provides a brief overview of muscle mass and what...
The health risks associated with increased levels of body fat are commonly talked about, but where you store body fat may be of equal importance. This article highlights the numerous ways in which an elevated waist may be an indicator...
People often want to โloseโ body fat, but what type of fat and from where you lose it matters โ especially when it comes to health. Whilst you can measure body fat levels through body composition measurements, what does this...
Water is essential for life and that includes the human body! It is central to every chemical process that takes place in the body and has a multitude of important roles. This article provides a brief overview of the role...
This article covers some background on body composition, why it matters, and the pros and cons on the most common methods to measure body composition.
Change isnโt all or nothing, and change doesnโt always equal action either. Successful change can be incremental and unfold over time as you become more ready to take on a new behaviour.
This article provides tips to optimise insulin sensitivity. The tips will also assist to: help manage blood glucose levels, prevent and/or reverse type 2 diabetes and reduce cardiovascular risk factors, PCOS and other insulin resistant associated conditions.
Insulin plays an essential role in the body, from facilitating the movement of sugar (glucose) into the cells, to promoting muscle synthesis, to stimulating the growth of new cells. However, like most things in life, we want just the right...
Whilst there is a definite relationship between insulin resistance and weight gain, which one comes first remains unclear. Both insulin resistance and weight gain are risk factors for type 2 diabetes and many other chronic diseases. Letโs examine their relationship.
During stress, we adapt our physiology and behaviour so that we are able to survive. This is known as the stress response. Under normal conditions, the stress response is vital and healthy. However, when activated repeatedly, it can have negative...
Type 2 diabetes results from genetic and lifestyle factors. The great news is, lifestyle can be changed. Changes to diet, physical activity and weight (especially body fat) levels prevent and reverse type 2 diabetes. This article covers the key lifestyle...
The more you move and more active you are, the more you exercise and the fitter you are, the healthier youโll be and the longer youโll live. Slightly over simplified, but you get my point!
A well-balanced inflammatory response maintains good health, prevents illness and aids recovery. However too much of an inflammatory response, known as a low-grade inflammatory response, is associated with a host of chronic diseases, one of which is type 2 diabetes....
Stress. That dreaded word that we hear more and more. We know that too much is bad for us. We know itโs associated with chronic diseases, reduced immunity, poor sleep and weight gain. Unfortunately, that only seems to make the...
Expert advice on recommended carbohydrate intake for type 2 diabetes remains controversial making it particularly confusing to know how much to have. This article summarises research on the impact of a low carb diet on type 2 diabetes.
Insulin plays a fundamental role in how food is utilised and stored. A state of insulin resistance results in metabolic dysregulation, subsequent health issues and chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Read on to find out more about insulin,...
In this article we look at the health of the small intestine with a particular focus on Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO for short. Our Nutritionists and Functional Medicine Practitioners regularly see SIBO and help to support clients with...
Our energy levels can be affected by so many things, but one of the fundamental areas to consider is that of impaired oxygen delivery or what might be more commonly associated with anaemia.
In this article I want to introduce you to the role of the thyroid in health and disease prevention. I will overview common symptoms and imbalances that can occur as well as possible testing.
There is a striking resemblance between the amount of water on this earth and the amount of water in the human body. With around 60-65% of the human body being water and 75-85% of the brain being made up of...
With an ever-growing body of research underscoring the importance of dietary fats in our meals, discerning the most beneficial fats for cooking has never been more paramount. This article delves into the structure of fats, highlighting why preserving their integrity...
Have you ever had a sudden urge to eat something or following a meal had a significant desire to eat more, especially something sweet? Why is it that this seems to happen at the same time of day each day...
Here are some tips I have taken from Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh, also known as โThe Father of Mindfulnessโ. These were taken from his short book titled How to Eat.
In this article we are going to look at the connection between food and our physiology and why food can play such an important role in optimising health and improving physique.
In this article we are going to look at why some people get โhangryโ after not eating for a while or between meals.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted condition that affects women across the globe, presenting a complex challenge to both patients and healthcare professionals alike. In the realm of functional medicine, a holistic and individualised approach to diagnosis and management...
Most of us start our journey of health with massive ambitions. You feel energized, motivated and ready to turn your diet on its head, or rather, on its feet. You clear all the crisps, sweets and treats from your cupboard,...
So youโve had a stool test and it looks like you have a Giardia infection. Giardia is a parasitic infection that can bring about a host of disruptive symptoms, affecting both digestive and overall health, yet it is rarely discussed...
We all have gas, some of us more than others, but on average we all pass wind 10-15 times per day. For some excessive gas can be embarrassing, and for others a tool for child-like humour, what should be understood...
Fats have had a bad rap over the past 30-40 years. The obsession around low fat products along with misinformation based upon cherry picked research has ultimately lead to a state of confusion as to whether fats are helpful or...
Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that can help provide mental stimulation, in fact it is the worlds most consumed psychoactive drug. The media and opinion often portray caffeine as something that can be both good and bad for your health....
How we all respond to alcohol is likely to be very individual but let’s explore it’s potential affects on your health and physique goals, as well as providing some ways to be more mindful and make better choices when it...
Not all carbohydrates are equal and over the years the image of carbohydrates have gone from friend to foe back to friend again depending on what article or โexpertโ you listen to.
In this article I aim to provide a general overview of fibre, its benefits and the best sources to include in your diet.
In this discussion we are going to look at the role protein plays in the body, whilst determining what optimal levels are for you and reviewing whether too much protein can be bad for you.
Weโve all heard of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, but what are phytonutrients?
In this article I am going to discuss the role of inflammation in the gut with a particular focus on Crohnโs disease. Weโll look at the main symptoms, probable causes and what you can do to help improve your outcome.
To help support the balance of bacteria in our gut there are certain foods that should feature regularly in your diet. The two food groups you should include are prebiotics and probiotics. In this article we look at why beneficial...
In this article we look at emotional eating, how to raise awareness and some tactics to help you overcome emotional eating habits that often lead to yo-yo type dieting and an inability to achieve your health and physique goals.
In this article we take a quick look at how thyroid function might be affecting weight loss and how you might be able to determine if you potentially have an underlying thyroid issue.
Mucosal surfaces cover a large part of our body. The digestive tract, nose, mouth and throat are prime examples where this mucosal layer plays a critical role in supporting our health.
In this article we look at what mindful eating is and what you can do improve how you eat and the process of mindful eating.
For such a common method of cooking there has been a surprisingly sparse amount of research completed on the positives or negatives of microwave cooking on our food and our health. Most of the articles / blogs online are either...
There is an increasing awareness with regards to organic foods vs non-organic foods, with many people choosing to buy organic for a variety of reasons, with the most popular reasons given are that of reducing toxin exposure, being better for...
There is not a week that goes by without a contradictory article telling us exactly how many vegetables we must eat to stay healthy. But is there an amount that’s right for everyone? Should we be aiming for a certain...
Unfortunately we have many exposures to mercury these days and some level of management is required to help prevent the poisonous effects of mercury exposure.
Diaphragmatic breathing, often referred to as deep breathing, plays a pivotal role in supporting and enhancing the functionality of our nervous system. This technique, which involves deep, rhythmic breaths from the diaphragm, encourages full oxygen exchange โ the beneficial trade...
Embarking on an elimination diet can seem like a daunting endeavour. However, when guided by the principles of functional medicine, this process transforms into a powerful tool for uncovering the hidden causes of discomfort and disease. In this article, we...
In this article I would like to discuss the benefits of including Epsom Salt baths in your life and how they can help with a range of health issues.
Following an injury, enhancing, and optimising the recovery process, is a primary concern for anyone who likes to move and feel healthy. Additionally, preventing injury is even better! Conventional treatments of rest, immobilisation, ice etc. are well known. This article...