Top

gut dysbiosis

Alison Tehan Nutrition / gut dysbiosis

How nutrition supports your skin during Perimenopause

If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s, the hormonal changes of perimenopause can create challenges for your skin. With a change in hormones, particularly when estrogen drops, the protective skin barrier becomes weaker. This means your skin can become more sensitive and skin texture may change where acne, rosacea and eczema can become more common. Glowing and vibrant skin isn’t just about what you put on it, but also what you feed it. Our skin is a reflection of our internal health, and during perimenopause and menopause due to the increased inflammation, nutrition is important in keeping your skin hydrated, resilient, and less inflamed. Understanding these changes and how nutrition can support skin health is key to maintaining a radiant, healthy complexion during...

vitamin d, immunity, energy, inflammation, gut health

How optimal Vitamin D levels can transform your health

Its that time of year when it's important to consider your vitamin D levels and ensure they are at an optimal level. Many people start to feel off balance with a low mood and susceptible to every bug circulating. Often, low vitamin D levels are the reason, something I frequently witness in my clinic Vitamin D is essential for several critical aspects of our well-being, including immune function, mood regulation, energy levels, gut health, and thyroid function.  It is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”, as it is created in our skin in response to sunlight exposure. During winter, shorter days and wearing more layers mean less skin exposure to sunlight, leading to lower Vitamin D production and storage. Here are some surprising benefits of Vitamin...

Share

Why loving bitter foods is good for you

When it comes to food it can sometimes feel too easy to focus on the sweet and savory while bitter foods are often overlooked in our diet. One of the most harmful shifts in our diet over the past 50 years has been the persistent increase in the sweetness of our foods. This trend has led to a significant consequence: a growing sensitivity or aversion to bitter foods. Bitter foods may not be an obvious first choice, but from a nutritionist, their inclusion in our diet is crucial for maintaining optimal health, gut health, and promoting healthy bile flow. Before going into the benefits of eating bitter foods, let's talk about the importance of bile. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in...

mood foods

Simple foods to support your mental health

For World Mental Health Day I think its important to remember that our diet is now a recognised modifiable factor in the prevention and treatment of mental illness. In fact the clinical guidelines for the treatment of mood disorders in Australia has described diet as an essential non negotiable factor for treatment. The dietary approach that's gained attention for its positive impact on mental health is the Mediterranean diet. Packed with nutrient-rich, brain-loving foods, this diet offers a delicious way to support your mood, cognition, and overall mental health Here are 7 easy foods that can help you get started on your journey to a happier, healthier mind. Walnuts: These brain-shaped nuts are a remarkable source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to reduced...

Is it perimenopause or insulin resistance? Why insulin resistance may be making your perimenopause worse

I've been seeing more and more women in the clinic who are dealing with insulin resistance, and a lot of them aren't even aware of it. Its usually the stubborn weight gain and skin tags that are obvious clues for me. If I suspect insulin resistance, I usually refer them for some blood tests to get a clearer picture. Insulin resistance happens when insulin levels are consistently high. The hormone insulin helps control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. With insulin resistance, the body's cells don't respond normally to insulin. Glucose can't enter the cells as easily, so it builds up in the blood. This can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. This reduced ability to respond to insulin affects metabolic flexibility, making it harder...

probiotics

Probiotics and what you need to know

Probiotics are something that I've noticed many people take without really knowing what they are taking and if they provide any benefit. It seems that there is still some confusion regarding the benefits and prescribing of probiotics, especially when they are purchased over the counter at the chemist or online. To help guide you in purchasing and taking probiotics for maximum benefit, i have provided some information below. Probiotics can be incredibly beneficial for our digestive health and overall well-being. However, not all probiotics are created equal, and understanding some key factors can help you make informed choices. There are many different kinds of probiotics, or species of beneficial bacteria, and each acts on the body in different ways Different strains of probiotics offer different benefits. It's essential to choose a...

Balancing blood sugar in Perimenopause

I haven’t changed what I eat or how I move but my weight keeps increasing, what is going on? This is such a common question I hear from many women in their 40s and 50s. The weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is one of the most frustrating and confusing elements of this phase in a womens life. Blood sugar balance is the key to avoiding weight gain at any age and is particularly important as we approach this significant phase of life.  The changes in hormones creates an environment in our body where managing blood glucose needs to be done more carefully and thoughtfully. Balancing our blood sugar across the entire day is a game changer for feeling more energised with no energy slumps, less snacking and less...

periemenopause diet

Foods that fight inflammation

The more we learn about the role that inflammation plays in overall health, the more we see that some of the best way we can reduce chronic inflammation are simple things we do every day such as food we eat. Inflammation is an essential process for protecting our body. Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognizes anything that is foreign—such as an invading bug, plant pollen, or chemical. This often triggers a process called inflammation. Intermittent bouts of inflammation protect our health but when inflammation becomes chronic, it can cause long term health issues. Symptoms of chronic inflammation can vary, and present differently in everyone but in general, they can include weight gain, achy joints, puffiness, muscle soreness, anxiety and low mood, bloating and brain...

Share

What is causing my bloating?

There are so many causes of bloating and its not always about the food. This is an area that can confuse so many and I want you to know that its not always about the food as I outline below. Yes some food groups can cause our gut to bloat after eating them. This can be a normal physiological reaction. Normal bloating shouldn’t cause too much discomfort and it passes after a short period of time. I believe our bodies are designed to eat real, whole foods. Our bodies know what do to with them, they are designed to break them down and digest them. As we get older it becomes harder to digest foods such as dairy as we stop producing much of the enzyme to...

Should I try Fasting

Fasting is one of the most ancient and a widespread healing traditions and has lately become popular and mainstream. There are so many benefits to fasting mainly focusing around weight loss. Other benefits that have come out of more recent research include improved insulin resistance, blood pressure, gut health, reduced inflammation and also allowing for cell recovery and tissue rejuvenation. The idea of fasting is to allow the insulin levels to go down far enough and for long enough that we start to burn our fat stores. After a week or so of trialing a fast you may start to notice a difference. Research shows that insulin sensitivity improves. That is, your cells are more sensitive to insulin immediately which means you should find your sugar levels...

Share