​Winter Recipes
 
Chicken & Corn Soup (serves 4)
600g Chicken Mince
4 cups Chicken Stock
1 cup Water
2 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
3cm piece Ginger, grated
1 Egg
1 420g Creamed Corn
1 420g Corn Kernels
3 Green Onions
Chilli & Pepper (optional)
 

1. Bring the stock, water, vinegar, ginger and chicken to the boil in a medium sized soup pot
2. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken has cooked through
3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and stir into the soup, whisking as you pour the egg in
4. Add the creamed corn and corn kernels, return to the boil
5. Serve with finely sliced green onions as a garnish, season with pepper and chilli (optional)

 
Pumpkin & Cauliflower Soup
2 cups (200g-300g) Cauliflower
2 cups (200g-300g) Pumpkin
1 large Potato
1 large Brown Onion
4 cups Chicken Stock
1 cup Water (optional)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Serve with
1 heaped tbsp. (50g) Low Fat Greek Yoghurt
1 Slice Sourdough
1 heaped tbsp. (50g) Cottage Cheese
 

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium sized soup pot, dice the onion and sauté until transparent.
2. Dice the vegetables (pumpkin, cauliflower, potato) and add to the pot
3. Add the stock and simmer until the vegetables ca be blended into a puree with a stick mixer
4. Serve the soup with 1 tbsp of Greek yoghurt and a slice of sourdough toast topped with 1 tbsp of cottage cheese

 
Creamy Potato, Bacon & Leek Soup
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Leeks
800g Potato
6 rashers Middle Bacon
4 cups Chicken Stock
340ml can lite Evaporated Milk
 

1. Thinly slice the whites of the leeks and sauté in a medium sized soup pot in 1 tbsp of olive oil.
2. Dice the bacon and add to the pot
3. As the bacon becomes crispy, add the diced potato, toss well so the potato is coated in the leek and bacon mixture
4. Add the chicken stock and simmer until the potato is ready to be pureed
5. Stir in the evaporated milk, simmer for a few minutes and puree the soup using a six mixer

 
 
 
 

Binge eating is a complex problem that affects both mental and physical health.

While it can often feel like there is no way out of this behaviour, there are 3 simple steps you can follow that will help you to get started on your path to resolving this problem.
 
If you are someone who struggles with binge eating, it is important to know that you are not weak or simply lacking will power to do the “right thing”.

There is a purpose to this behavior and in order for you to resolve this problem completely, we must uncover the cause.
 
Over the years I have noticed that there are a few things that women who struggle with binge eating have in common and I am going to discuss them below.
 
1. Nervous System Dysregulation

A dysregulated nervous system will seek soothing behaviors. Nervous system dysregulation can develop when you have been exposed to prolonged periods of high stress or after a stressful event.

When the nervous system is dysregulated you may find that you have a lowered resilience to stress and you may find yourself feeling increasingly overwhelmed, agitated or anxious. It is often during these times that we turn to food for comfort and relief.
 
High levels of stress and a dysregulated nervous system will cause other imbalances within the body. Hormones will be affected, gut health will be affected and our mental/emotional state suffers.
 
This trio of hormone imbalance, gut issues and nervous system dysregulation is the perfect binge eating storm.
 
If you would like to resolve binge eating, step one is to manage stress and rebuild resilience.
 
There are a number of ways we can achieve this outcome. First we may identify triggers, change what we can and build resilience so you can handle those things that are out of your control.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool to reduce stress, improve resilience and reprogram behaviors but it is not your only option. Nutrition changes, lifestyle changes, herbal medicine and even certain nutrients can reduce stress and support nervous system healing.

Learn more about nervous system dysregulation here: READ NOW
 
2. Restriction

The cycle of binging and restricting is a nasty one.

For most people, binge eating tends to occur mid-afternoon and late at night. As a result, breakfast is often skipped out of guilt or simply not feeling hungry because of the amount of food consumed the night before.

It may seem counter intuitive but it is vital to start your day with a balanced breakfast, regardless of the amount of food consumed the day before.

A balanced (preferably savory) breakfast that contains protein, fats and carbs will create a nice, stable foundation for your day. Your nervous system will be happier, blood sugar levels will be stable, hormones will be happier and you will be less inclined to binge.

It is important to continue to nourish your body throughout the day, you may need to have snacks available and plan to have a balanced lunch and dinner.

If you are craving sweets, have something sweet, if you are craving salty, have something salty.

Step 2 is to eat enough. This step alone is unlikely to be enough to resolve binge eating but it will greatly support you as you work on nervous system regulation and resolving other triggers.
 
3. Stop trying to lose weight

I know weight gain is one of the pain points and consequences of binge eating but for many women, their quest to lose weight often fuels the behavior.

Women who struggle with binge eating often experience a sense of urgency when it comes to weight loss. I see women over restricting, over exercising, skipping meals and feeling impatient and anxious about achieving their weight loss goal.

This often means that these women set unrealistic standards which means they are able to stay “on track” for a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks, but eventually they fall off track, the binge eating becomes even more aggressive and they find themselves gaining more weight.
 
Step 3 is to STOP trying to lose weight. Stop restricting and stop over training. Focus on regulating your nervous system, healing your health issues, nourishing your body and as the behavior of binge eating disappears (and it doesn’t take long..) you can begin to make gentle changes to your diet and lifestyle that will allow you to lose weight and keep it off for good.
 
Step 4 (bonus step!)
 
Finally, it is important to work with a practitioner (like me) who understands the complexity of binge eating.

For many years, I was trapped in the cycle of binging and restricting, eventually it took a toll on my health and I had to change my ways. This is one of the reasons why I now encourage women to adopt sustainable approaches rather than engaging in restrictive plans like the keto diet or VLC plans.

There are a number of things that can cause binge eating, and most people struggle with more than one, common triggers include:

• Stress, anxiety, overwhelm, low mood
• Hormone imbalance: insulin resistance, estrogen dominance, hypo thyroid, PCOS
• Gut health issues: low stomach acid, leaky gut, food intolerance, SIBO, candida, IBS
• Nutrient deficiency (caused by stress or gut health issues): poor nutrient absorption, mineral deficiency, difficulty digesting protein or fats
• Fatigue, poor sleep, blood sugar fluctuations, certain medications, and more

 
During a consult we will work together to identify ALL of your unique triggers, once we have identified these, I can create plan that will be easy, enjoyable and effective.

The goal is to resolve the triggers (listed above) and to help you create sustainable change, we want to ensure your body feels nourished and supported so the desire to binge eat simply disappears, no will power required.

If you are struggling with binge eating, I know the possibility of resolving it completely may sound too good to be true so if you would like to find out if this process is right for you, use this link to schedule a time for a chat: BOOK NOW

People who struggle with nervous system dysregulation (NSD) often get labelled as having “anxiety”, “depression”, “ADHD” or other mood or behavioral disorders where SSRI’s or mood stabilisers are prescribed.

NSD can exacerbate symptoms of other conditions and changes within the body, including changes like menopause and conditions like thyroid dysfunction, gut health issues and auto immune disorders.

People who struggle with NSD may resonate with the symptoms of these mood or behavioral disorders (like anxiety disorder or ADHD) but they often feel like the diagnosis is not right. This causes them to feel reluctant to use prescribed medication and they end up suffering for far longer than necessary.

People who struggle with NSD are usually high functioning and highly capable. They often have a lot of responsibility and work high stress jobs or study high pressure subjects at uni. This history of being ‘high functioning’ often adds to the in congruent feeling they have about the labels they receive.

If the information in the article resonates with you, reach out because I would love to support you.

NSD is one of the many health imbalances that I have struggled with over the years, I understand it on a personal and clinical level and it is important to know that there is a way out.

What is NSD?

Nervous system dysregulation is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that develop after a stressful or traumatic event or after experiencing a prolonged period of stress.

Examples of traumatic experiences may include: an accident, a diagnosis, hearing bad news, losing a loved one, a relationship breakdown, a surgery, etc

Examples of times where people may be exposed to prolonged periods of stress include: studying, working a stressful job, pregnancy and raising young children (especially if sleep is compromised), caring for a loved one, grieving the loss of a loved one, abusive relationships, etc.

The stress and/or trauma does not need to be 'severe' for NSD to develop, in fact, often times, the smallest thing can be the 'final straw'.

Symptoms of nervous system dysregulation include:
​

• Feeling on edge, feeling anxious, feeling like something bad is going to happen
• Gut health issues like cramping, bloating, gastritis, food intolerance, IBS
• Sleep issues like inability to get to sleep or waking frequently throughout the night
• Hormone issues, symptoms of PMS or menopause may be exacerbated, thyroid function may appear to be slowing down without any changes in blood results
• Difficulty concentrating, brain fog, memory issues, feeling scattered, clumsy
• Lack of motivation, loss of interest in things that used to bring joy
• Feeling fatigued, wired but tired, difficulty relaxing, feeling like you have to keep busy
• Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, unwarranted weight gain (especially around the mid section) or rapid and extreme weight loss
• Changes in appetite and cravings, hungry while also experiencing a loss of interest in food

The interesting thing about NSD is, symptoms often come to the surface long after experiencing a stressful event.

It may feel as if that stressful chapter is closed and life is good, then all of a sudden some or all of the symptoms mentioned above, begin to develop. This can leave people feeling confused and frustrated as they struggle to make sense of why their body is behaving this way.

NSD often presents as anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, depression and ADHD. Medication for these diagnoses may provide some relief but they fail to address the true, underlying cause.

When I finally discovered that a majority of my symptoms were due to NSD, I felt a huge wave of relief. It was comforting to know that I wasn’t going crazy or losing my mind. What I was experiencing was an appropriate response to the level of stress I had experienced over the preceding years.

The approach to heal NSD is going to be different for everyone. Some people will resonate will all of the above symptoms, while others will find that only a few body systems are out of balance.

Treatment also depends on how much you are able to do throughout the healing process. For me, the fatigue, brain fog and lack of motivation was so severe that simply changing one or two things felt like an ordeal.

Steps towards resolution

Although treatment varies, there are a few things that most people will benefit from and I will briefly list them below.

1. Restore nutrient deficiencies

During prolonged periods of stress, our body burns through its resources. Diet is often something that is neglected during these times of stress and this combination leaves us completely depleted.

Nutrients like magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin c, B6 and more are usually completely depleted but it is not as simple as simply supplementing these nutrients and getting back on with normal life.

A dysregulated nervous system will often produce issues like low stomach acid, sluggish digestion and impaired detoxification. We must work on resolving these issues while supplementing with high quality nutrients that are specific for your body in order for them to have a positive effect.

My favorite way to begin replenishing these lost nutrients is with an Epsom salt foot soak (1/2 cup Epsom salt in 1 tub of warm water) this will slowly increase magnesium, once the body starts to show signs of healing we can accelerate the process with a supplement (if necessary).

The second thing I like to use is an 'Adrenal Mocktail'. Drink 1 mocktail daily to begin to replenish some of the lost nutrients. Ingredients are: 1/2 cup Nudie orange juice, 1/2 cup coconut water and a generous pinch of salt. This combo is rich in wholefood vitamin c, sodium and potassium. You could also stir in 1 tbsp of collagen for a little dose of protein. This is a great afternoon 'pick-me-up' for people struggling with mid afternoon fatigue.

2. Deliberate relaxation

NSD is often characterised by feeling like you are stuck in a constant state of flight and fight. When this becomes our 'norm' if often feels uncomfortable to relax and we may feel like we need food, alcohol or something else to unwind.

Part of the healing process is to find a method of relaxation that resonates with you. It could be meditation, hypnosis, drawing, painting, walking in nature, swimming, dancing, listening to music or taking a warm bath.

People who feel stuck in a state of flight and fight can often feel worse after relaxing and may feel better when they are constantly busy, but this is part of the problem. Running on stress can be somewhat addictive and it takes time to feel comfortable in a relaxed state.

Be persistent, try different activities and find something that helps you to relax and recharge.

3. Herbal Medicine and Bio Resonance

These are two of my favorite tools that both calm and re-energise the nervous system.

Both modalities are completely tailored to your individual needs, which means results are gentle, rapid and effective.

Herbal medicine and bio resonance can help to bring your major body systems (like your nervous system, digestive system, endocrine/hormone system) back into balance. When a gentle approach is used, these modalities are free from side effects. I use both modalities in clinic for a variety of issues on a daily basis with great success.

4. Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is a wonderful tool that communicates directly with your unconscious mind. This is the part of your mind that is driving a majority of the symptoms. When appropriate, I may suggest the use of certain hypnosis recordings to promote feelings of rest, relaxation and calmness. Not everyone with NSD will respond well to hypnosis, for some it can be irritating due to the discomfort they feel when they try to relax. As the nervous system begins to heal, I often encourage clients to explore hypnosis as it is a lovely and effective tool.

If you are ready to start seeking support to heal your nervous system and the associated symptoms, reach out because I would love to help you.

Whether you are looking to avoid medication or seek additional support to improve the way your medication works, there is much that can be done in both scenarios. 

My approach is completely flexible and I will meet you where you are at. Some people like to do everything all at once while others seek gentle and subtle change. Either way there is so much we can do to get you feeling like YOU again.

Use the link below to get started with an initial appointment. 

Work With Me

I used to be the type of person who couldn't eat carbs on a regular basis without gaining weight.

I was introduced to the keto diet in my early 20's just after I had been diagnosed with PCOS. I was struggling with stubborn weight gain (only a few kilos but enough to make me feel uncomfortable and unhappy with my appearance), I was fatigued, not coping well with stress, constantly craving sugar and struggling with regular episodes of binge eating which I would then follow with periods of restriction.

I had skin issues, sluggish digestion (which left me feeling constantly bloated), severe PMS and big issues with my cycle.

For 8 years, I used the keto diet (on and off) to manage these symptoms. I was able to get my symptoms under control while on the keto diet but as soon as I relaxed my diet, the symptoms would return. I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to be very conscious of carbs for the rest of my life.

In the early months of 2020, I decided I needed to put myself back on the keto diet to get these recurring symptoms under control. In the past I would begin to see these symptoms improve within the first week, but this time, weeks passed and nothing changed. I persisted with the plan, I cut out more carbs and focused on eating as 'cleanly' as possible. Eventually my weight and skin health started to change but other aspects of my health were getting much worse.

Something was wrong.

After many months of trial and error, reading and research, I realised a number of facts about the keto diet which were difficult to accept.

I had devoted the past 8 years to promoting the benefits of the keto diet and I had worked with thousands of people, coaching them on various keto plans. It was a scary thing to be in a position where I wanted to change my message and my mind.

Now, 2 years later, I consistently have no signs of PCOS, insulin resistance, gut health issues or hormone imbalance. I eat an abundant amount of carbs daily. Rice, potato, fruit, honey and even fruit juice forms a regular part of my daily diet and it feels freeing to be able to enjoy these things without worrying about gaining weight. 

Throughout this article I want to share some of the things that helped me to realise that keto was not the answer for me, and these are some of the things that have helped me to be able to eat a wider variety of food again without it affecting my health or my weight in a negative way.

If you would like to experience this same level of freedom, read on.

These are 3 of the many things I learned which allowed me to start the process of healing my body so I could break free from keto dieting.

1. Carbs are not the problem

Carbs are our bodies preferred source of fuel. They are not supposed to cause rapid weight gain, bloating, binge eating, insulin resistance, hormone imbalance or any other health issue that gets blamed on carbs. I'm not suggesting you can eat all the sugar you want without repercussions, but carbs are not the evil macronutrient that we are led to believe they are.

If carbs do appear to cause health problems, cutting them out will work, for a while.. just like it did for me. But eventually, the symptoms will break through and you will be forced to deal with the REAL root cause.

It was interesting for me to learn that there are certain nutrients and minerals that your body needs to be able to turn carbs into fuel. If these nutrients are lacking, carbs may cause problems.

I decided to use a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (along with a bio resonance scan) to uncover my mineral status and I discovered I was deficient in EVERY mineral needed to utilise carbs. Discovering this also helped me to understand how imbalances like insulin resistance and PCOS developed in the first place.

So one of the problems with the keto diet mindset is, instead of balancing the missing minerals and nutrients that the body needs to thrive, we simply blame carbs, we cut them out of our diet and we think we have solved the problem.

It was also interesting to discover that certain foods can impair or block your bodies ability to turn carbs into fuel. When we are aware of these foods, we can reduce them (because these foods are not essential like carbs are and your body wont miss them), and then you can eat the carbs your body wants without gaining weight.

2. The keto diet can make things worse

Any kind of extreme restriction forces the body into a stressed state and a stressed body will struggle to heal.

When I was first diagnosed with PCOS I was struggling with estrogen dominance, insulin resistance, subclinical hypothyroid function, gut health issues, impaired detoxification and nervous system dysregulation.

The LAST thing my body needed at that time was to be starved of carbs. 

By cutting out carbs, I starved my liver of the fuel it needed to function well, which further perpetuated toxin build up and estrogen dominance. I starved my thyroid and metabolism of the fuel it needed to work well, causing me to regain weight rapidly every time I went off plan. I caused my body to be in a high stress state where it was forced to produce ketones for fuel. In this stressed state I was unable to heal my gut, I was unable to heal the hormone imbalance and I was unable to signal to my body that it was safe to maintain a healthy weight.

What my body really needed at this time was nourishment. But sadly, we are brainwashed by diet culture to think dieting and restriction is the answer to all of our health concerns, when really, it makes everything worse.

3. Just because it feels good, doesn't mean it is healthy

One thing I struggled to get my head around was, how could the keto diet be making things worse if I felt so good when I was on it?

If you've tried the keto diet before, you would know that cravings and hunger disappear within a few days, which honestly should be the first red flag. An absence or loss of appetite is not a good thing, its a sign that something is wrong, but once again, it has been glamorised by diet culture as something we should aim to achieve.

I saw a social media post by Jessica Ash Wellness saying "if your dog loses it's appetite for days on end, you don't think.. "YAY, they are in ketosis!" you rush them to the vet. Same goes for a child or elderly person, a loss of appetite is often a sign that they are stressed or unwell. It does not occur when the metabolism is thriving.

On a keto diet, bloating appears to improve, energy appears to improve, everything seems to feel better... until of course you fall off track because your body is desperate for carbs.

As I mentioned in point 2, any kind of extreme restriction forces the body into a stressed state. Carb restriction, extreme calorie restriction (anything below 1200 calories for an adult is extreme restriction), prolonged periods of fasting, even excessive exercise will cause stress to increase.

If you have to consistently eat 1200 calories or less to lose weight, then weight loss is not the thing you should be focusing on. Firstly because this is a sign that your body and your metabolism needs nourishment and healing.

Having to starve to lose weight is a sign that something is wrong. Secondly, it is unlikely that you will be able to maintain such a low intake of fuel long term, and when you do start eating more, you will gain the weight back (plus some).

And lastly, if you do manage to eat 1200 calories long term, your metabolism will continue to slow down, you will lose metabolically supportive tissue (muscle), hormone imbalance will develop, problems with detoxification will arise and you will begin to gain weight again.

This means you will have to eat even less next time you want to lose weight. This is how people end up on those horrible HCG and Fast 800 style diets (sadly, I am speaking from experience here too). 

So back to the original question, how come we feel so good on restrictive plans like a keto diet?

When stress is high, we can feel really good. High stress can cause your appetite and cravings to disappear, it can cause an increase in energy, it can cause brain fog to disappear. High levels of stress can suppress almost any symptom.. for a while (this is how corticosteroids work). But despite feeling good, prolonged levels of high stress are not healthy.

Eventually, the body cannot cope with these high levels of stress. This is the point where most people fall off their plan. We blame things like a lack of will power or a lack of motivation, but this is not the real problem.

When we spend too much time in a highly stressed state, whether that stress is because of life circumstances, work or restrictive dieting, our metabolism becomes suppressed and as soon as we start eating more, we regain the weight. Not only does the weight return but it becomes harder to lose it on our next attempt.

Periods of high stress will also deplete the very nutrients you need to use carbs for fuel, which further enforces the false belief that carbs make you gain weight.

Over time, stress will damage gut health, impair liver function and disrupt hormones. This is all going on under the surface while we're feeling "really good" on our carb or calorie restricted plan. It is not until we start eating carbs again that stress comes down (because carbs are actually anti-stress, its one of the reasons why we crave carbs, sugar and salt when we're stressed) and the symptoms begin to appear. Which reinforces the false belief that 'carbs are bad' and that carbs cause (insert symptom here).

When I first heard this information I was triggered, I was upset to learn that what I believed to be true may not actually be true.. but I was so desperate to fix my health issues that I was willing to do anything.

If these points have resonated with you and if you're ready to break free from restrictive dieting, yo-yo dieting and keto plans, reach out because I would love to help you.

Use the link below to get started with an initial consultation today.

​Work With Me

Stress impacts our health in a big way.

Every system of our body has the potential to be negatively affected by acute stress, chronic stress and anxiety.

The main body systems that are at a high risk of being severely affected by stress include our endocrine (hormone) system, our immune system and our digestive system. 

Throughout this article we are going to focus on the impact that stress and anxiety can have on our gut and what we can do to reduce the burden that stress has on our body.

What is stress?

Stress comes in many forms. We have mental and emotional stressors like work stress, family stress and emotions that cause stress like anger, frustration, grief, uncertainty and worry, just to name a few.

In addition to mental and emotional stress, we have physical stress. Things like our diet, our toxin exposure, nutrient deficiencies, excessive exercise or lack of exercise, dieting (prolonged fasting and/or restriction of any kind), hormone imbalance, a lack of sleep and a lack of sunlight all cause stress, and the list does not end there.

It is impossible to avoid all stress, nor would we want to. But when our body becomes overburdened, our health begins to suffer.

When I work with someone to heal a stress-induced health issue, our primary goal is to reduce exposure to the stressors that are within our control and increase resilience so we can cope better with those stressors that are out of our control.

What is the link between stress and gut health?

There is an interesting relationship that exists between stress and gut health.

First and foremost, when we are stressed or anxious our stomach acid drops.

When this occurs, the protective mucous produced by our stomach also drops, which continues to down regulate acid production, which continues to down regulate mucous production and all of a sudden we find ourselves experiencing indigestion, bloating, reflux and, in severe cases, gastritis or stomach ulcers.

Optimal stomach acid is required to assist us in breaking down food so we can utilise the nutrients. When stomach acid drops, we risk vitamin, mineral and protein deficiency. These deficiencies can lead to fatigue, blood sugar fluctuations (which is a major cause of anxiety and binge eating), and an impaired resilience to stress.

These deficiencies also contribute to the development of other health issues like immune dysfunction, hormone imbalance and weight gain, but more on that another time.

To make matters worse, when we experience issues like indigestion or reflux, we often turn to acid lowering medication, which further exacerbates the nutrient deficiencies and can increase your risk of certain severe health issues (1).

Lowered stomach acid and indigestion is just the tip of the iceberg.

When stomach acid is low, the whole digestive system, especially the small intestine, runs the risk of developing a microbiome imbalance.

Stress alone affects gut bacteria and the microbiome, and changes in the microbiome of the digestive system negatively affect mental health (sounds like the start of a vicious cycle!) (2) (3)

"Bad bacteria" AKA "un-helpful microbes" thrive in a low acid environment.

These unhelpful types of bacteria can cause food intolerance, leaky gut, constipation, diarrhea, bad breath, fatigue, nausea and skin issues like acne and eczema. An over growth of "bad bacteria" can aggravate auto immune disorders, negatively affect our immune system, alter our mood and cause a tendency towards anxiety and depression.

When problems like food intolerance and leaky gut develop, we can feel constantly bloated, puffy and inflamed. We may experience frequent headaches, brain fog, fluid retention, cravings for carbs and sweets and we can experience extreme fatigue. Some women express that they feel like they are "nine months pregnant" after eating but can't seem to identify the cause.

This is the point where women usually book in to see me. They have been stressed and anxious for too long. They are tired, foggy and "over it". Their health and digestive system feels completely out of whack, which causes more stress, anxiety and overwhelm and they find themselves in a position where they don't know where to start.

This is how I can help.

I understand that changing your diet and lifestyle is the last thing you want to do when you're feeling exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed.

The good news is, I've been there and I've created solutions to meet you where you're at.

What are the steps?

First and foremost, we need to reduce stress and increase resilience.

Depending on your health and preferences, we may consider a bio resonance scan and treatment, which is an effective way to reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety and an unhappy gut. We may consider a short hypnosis audio which you can use as you go to bed at night to reduce stress and increase resilience. We may consider herbal medicine or key nutrients to support your body to heal, to improve sleep, to reduce inflammation and to increase energy.

When it comes to diet, I will help you to identify the major triggers, and in most cases we will need to swap these "problem" foods for foods that are easier to digest. While we do this, we will work on healing your digestive system so you will be able to tolerate a much wider variety of food in the future.

You will leave your initial consult with a clear, easy to follow plan and in most cases we can begin to see improvement within the first 2 weeks.

Treatment plans are unique and tailored to your individual needs but here are 4 things you can start doing right now:

1. Carrot Salad

Enjoy a small handful of grated carrot with 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar (with the mother), 1 tsp of olive oil and a generous sprinkle of salt before meals. Aim to eat this salad 10-15 minutes before eating your main meals to gently increase stomach acid and enzyme activity.

2. STOP drinking water before and during meals

Drinking water before and during meal times will "dampen" stomach acid, making it difficult to digest your meal and increasing your risk of indigestion and bloating. If you must drink with your meal you could consider a nice, warm, herbal tea. Peppermint and dandelion is a lovely, digestive system soothing blend.

3. Eat in a calm, relaxed state (easier said than done, I know)

Digestion begins in the mouth. Sit down to eat, free from distractions like TV and your phone, take a few deep breaths and slow down. Chew your food slowly and thoroughly, listen to your body and stop eating when you feel comfortably full. 

4. Stop eating fancy foods

Isn't it strange that our parents (or grandparents depending on your age) never had a problem with wheat, dairy, sugar or food in general. What has made us so special?

I understand that food is not the same as it used to be, but in our attempt to avoid these demonised foods, we have found ourselves eating things that are not made for humans to digest.

Keep it simple. White rice and potato is going to be easier to digest than brown rice and quinoa. Real sugar (fruit, honey, maple syrup) is going to be less disruptive to our digestive system than artificial sweeteners and additives. High quality dairy products are going to be more nourishing than nut milks and soy (which often cause many of the symptoms we want to heal).

Summary

Stress and anxiety affects gut health and gut health directly affects your mood. As you begin to spiral into this negative cycle, making a change can feel exhausting and over whelming but there are easy ways to get your health back on track.

If you are struggling with stress, anxiety and gut health issues and feel like you don't know where to start, I can help.

My approach is gentle and I use a unique combination of naturopathic principles and bio energetic medicine. I will support you to take action to heal in a way that is easy, enjoyable and sustainable.


Start today


(1) Maintenance therapy with proton pump inhibitors and risk of gastric cancer https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084798/ 

(2) Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: huma-bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7213601/

(3) Gut microbiota's effect o mental health: The gut-brain axis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/

Post viral fatigue is a common experience where people, especially women, struggle to regain their energy and vitality after a viral infection.

Post viral fatigue can last for months, maybe even years if the right interventions are not sought out. Viruses like Epstein-Barr (glandular fever), herpes virus, enterovirus, Ross River virus and CV19 commonly result in post viral fatigue. 

Symptoms may include:

• Persistent fatigue that is not alleviated by sleep or rest
• Brain fog or the inability to think clearly
• Weakened memory
• Swollen glands / swollen lymph nodes (commonly felt around the throat / neck)
• Joint stiffness or pain
• Frequent or persistent sore throat
• General aches and pains or a feeling of heaviness, especially of large muscles (legs, glutes, arms, back)
• Lack of motivation and an absence of joy

Despite suffering with some or all of these symptoms, blood tests and other standard testing methods often show that everything is "normal" or "within range". Occasionally there may be slightly elevated levels of inflammatory markers but not enough to warrant the level of discomfort that is being experienced. 

This can be upsetting and frustrating to hear because the suffering is not validated by changes in health markers and many people who experience post viral fatigue can begin to feel like it is "all in their head".

Standard medical advice is to use paracetamol or ibuprofen for aches and pains. Your primary health care practitioner may recommend that you rest more while recovering and cut out inflammatory foods.

The exact mechanism behind post viral fatigue is unknown but it is suspected that it is linked to:

• Immune system stress
• Nervous system depletion
• Increased inflammation (due to increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines)
• An "unusual" response to viruses that are latent or dormant within the body

From a holistic perspective, we would also add nutrient deficiencies, dehydration and mitochondrial dysfunction to this list.

For some people, they will find that their body will resolve the post viral fatigue in as little as a few weeks or in as long as a few months.

For others, post viral fatigue can turn into "chronic fatigue" which eventually impacts every aspect of their life in a negative way.

Personally, I experienced post viral fatigue that turned into "chronic fatigue" and this affected my quality of life for well over 10 years. 

From a medical perspective, there was nothing wrong. At times, my blood results showed iron deficiency but taking iron supplements only resulted in short term improvement. Eventually I was left feeling like my only option was to consider anti-depressant medication but I was hesitant to go down that path.

From a holistic perspective, I tried many approaches. I tried so many different supplements, herbal medicines, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, gentle diet changes, extreme diet changes, acupuncture, detoxes and bio-energetic medicine. Over the years I have tried it all, with varying levels of success.

The frustrating thing was, certain therapies appeared to work, and I was confident that my body was capable of healing but the symptoms would constantly come back.

Over the past 2 years I have found a protocol that has worked for me and I am going to share that protocol with you. This is not advice or a suggestion for you to follow as every person will have unique underlying issues that contribute to the problem.

My purpose for sharing the protocol is to show you that it does not have to be complicated, expensive or hard. Simple changes that are RIGHT for you can create powerful change and long lasting improvement.

Here is a summary of what works for me:

1. Diet changes.

For the longest time I was led to believe that carbs and sugar were inflammatory and they were the things I needed to cut out to feel better. Every time I'd cut carbs and sugar from my diet, I would feel better, for a while.. and then the fatigue and body aches would come back with a vengeance.

In 2020 I discovered that carbs and sugar were not my problem. The problem was the TYPE of carbs I was eating and HOW my body was responding to them.

When I focused on enjoying the food my body wanted and reducing the food that caused problems, I started to feel consistently better. Less fatigue, less aches and pains and less depressive moods. 

It was an interesting journey to discover which foods were right for me. I spent a lot of time re-learning everything I thought I knew about food and nutrition, I became more aware of symptoms that developed after certain foods and I used bio resonance testing to uncover which foods resonated well with my body and which ones did not (more on that later). 

2. Mineral balance and supplementation

Minerals are one of our essential building blocks. Many mechanisms within the body are dependent on minerals (like calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc and copper) and one of the most important functions of minerals is, they help cells to use fuel. 

Certain mineral deficiencies can make it very difficult to metabolise and utilise food, especially carbs. If we are struggling to metabolise and utilise food (and carbs) it is going to be VERY difficult for the body to produce energy. You will also lack the energy required to HEAL. It appears that carbs are the body's preferred source of fuel, especially when it is in a stressed or depleted state, so we must make sure we are able to use them for energy. People who feel that they are "addicted" to carbs or feel worse after eating carbs often lack key minerals and cutting carbs only makes the problem worse.

Mineral deficiencies can produce body aches and pains, immune stress, nervous system stress, sluggish liver and bowel function, sluggish thyroid function, depressed or anxious moods and more.

To uncover my mineral deficiencies I used a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). This is not the only option but it was the tool I chose at the time. Careful investigation into the symptoms you experience can also be an easy and accurate way to uncover deficiencies and a HTMA will often confirm what we suspect.

Due to the fact that my body was so depleted, I did need to consider supplementing certain minerals for a short period of time. As I started to feel consistently healthier I supplemented less and less, and now, I may go weeks (possibly months) without taking any supplements at all.

3. Intuition and self work

I developed glandular fatigue in my final year of high school. I then went straight into full time study to become a naturopath and also worked 2-3 jobs (30+ hours a week / 7 days a week) to pay for my education as the college I studied with did not offer student loans.

Immediately after graduating I started working with clients and continued to work part time jobs, 7 days a week.

I was incredibly fatigued and unwell but I honestly thought that was just "normal" for me.

When I started to get really busy with clients, I was so happy to be working my "dream job" that I pushed through. I would often see my first client at 7:30am and wrap up for the day somewhere between 7-8pm.

It was too much.

Eventually I accepted that fact that I needed to put some clear boundaries in place when it came to work and I did that in my own time.

I decided to look into why I felt like I had to work 7 days a week and why I had so much guilt around resting.

I engaged in a hypnosis and NLP program which helped me release negative emotions and limiting beliefs that I was holding onto about myself, my self worth and my self esteem. Once I completed the program I felt like a different person. I found it easier to enforce boundaries, to say no when I needed to and I let go of the guilt I used to experience around rest and putting my health first. 

Now if I start to feel fatigued or if the glands in my neck start to swell, instead of pushing through, I rest. If I do this, I may find I need to rest for a few hours or maybe even a day or two before I feel like myself again. If I ignore the feedback and push through I may find that I am fatigued again for several weeks.

Since implementing diet changes, mineral support and bio resonance, I am discovering that the fatigue and swollen glands may only "flare up" once every 3-6 months rather than every week or two, which was normal for me for many years. And truth be told, I usually only get a "flare up" now when I've been doing too much for too long.

4. Bio Resonance

The final thing and possibly the most powerful and effective thing I have done to restore my health is bio resonance testing and treatment. 

Bio resonance testing is a tool that scans the body for thousands of energetic imbalances that could be contributing to acute or chronic stress.

It can provide you with insights into your health that can be missed in standard methods of testing. 

When an imbalance is detected, the bio resonance device will search for a "balancing item" in the form of an energetic signature. You can either receive a treatment in person or the bio resonance device can imprint the balancing item / information into a bottle of drops which you take daily for 4-6 weeks. 

For me, bio resonance and bio energetic therapy was the missing link and it is something that I wish I had found 15 years ago as it would have saved me a lot of suffering.

A bio resonance scan followed by bio energetic therapy can help to restore energetic balance to the body. As a result, people commonly notice that they feel calmer and more content. Their energy can improve, sleep can improve and it can become easier to live a balanced life, rather than seeking those things that aren't good for us.

My results have been so profound that I now offer bio resonance testing and bio energetic therapy in clinic. The bio resonance device I have chosen can also use a hair sample for testing and drops can be posted to those who cannot see me in person. 

Summary

If you are struggling with post viral fatigue or persistent fatigue of any kind, there is hope and there are ways to support your body so you can get your vitality and life back.

Generic, one-size-fits-all protocols rarely work for fatigue, it is important to seek personalised advice because the drivers of fatigue and all chronic health issues vary from person to person.

If you would like to work with me to start the process of restoring your health, you can use the link below to get started.

renew-health.as.me/

There are 4 main reasons why people choose to explore bio energetic medicine.
 
1. They feel like they have tried almost everything to resolve chronic health issues or stubborn weight gain
2. Some therapies, diet changes and supplements do work but symptoms tend to return
3. They have done test after test and are constantly being told that everything looks fine (despite feeling less than fine)
4. They are ready to uncover and resolve the root cause of the health problems

​Bio energetic medicine is NOT a physical diagnostic tool. Using a bio resonance device will allow us to uncover what energetic imbalances are present in the body.
 
Everything in this world has an energetic resonance. Our body, our body systems and our organs all have their own unique resonance.

A healthy body system will have a different resonance to a stressed or depleted body system. If a body system is flagged as stressed or depleted in a bio resonance scan, this DOES NOT mean that there is a physical issue with that body system. It is flagging an energetic imbalance only.
 
Yes, at times a body system or organ may show on a scan and you may be aware of a physical health issue related to this organ or body system. Even in this case, it is only the energetic imbalance that has been detected by the scan.
 
Bio resonance scanning and bio energetic medicine excels at helping people to uncover mind body connections.
 
It is a common understanding that stress can cause pain or tension in the jaw, shoulders or neck. Anxiety can often be felt in the chest or abdominal region and may result in symptoms similar to that of IBS.
 
From an esoteric point of view grief may affect the energetic resonance of the lungs, anger or resentment may affect the energetic resonance of the liver and fear may affect the energetic resonance of the kidneys or knees. These are just a few examples of the hundreds of interesting connections than can occur between the mind and body.
 
A bio resonance scan can help to bring awareness to these connections. Once detected, you can work to resolve the imbalances that are causing energetic disharmony in the body.
 
To explain a little more about bio resonance and bio energetic medicine, I am going to discuss my personal experience.
 
A couple of years ago I started to develop acne on my face. At first the breakouts were small and I could cover them with makeup but then it started to turn cystic and I had varying degrees of breakouts throughout the month with flare-ups occurring every 2 weeks.
 
Immediately I started to work on potential underlying causes.

I changed my diet, I worked on gut health, liver function and hormone health. As a result, so many areas of my health improved and at times my skin would clear up for a while only to be followed by an aggressive breakout. It started to seem like the more obsessed and upset I became about my skin, the worse it got, despite doing all the "right" things.
 
I had known about bio resonance and bio energetic medicine for a while and had seen a practitioner to help me resolve fatigue (I talk about that in my article "Holistic Considerations for Post Viral Fatigue"). I had great results with that practitioner but wanted to try a different system so I booked with a practitioner interstate and she based my scan and remedy off a hair sample (this is now the system I use).
 
Without boring you with all the details, after having my first scan and following the treatment protocol I felt better. I felt calmer and more confident in my ability to resolve the problem. I found it easier to change the things I was resistant to changing. My energy continued to improve, my mental clarity improved and, as a result, life became easier. Instead of feeling anxiety, shame or disappointment about the state of my skin, I felt neutral and trusted it would heal with time.

The scan indicated that certain body systems were stressed. The energetic resonance of my skin, large intestine, liver and adrenals was out of balance so it made sense to me why my body was struggling to heal.
 
As my energetic body was brought back into balance, it started to respond better to the diet and lifestyle changes I had made over the past 2 years. And at the time of writing this article, I am VERY happy with the appearance and health of my skin. I am confident my skin has healed, and, I say "at the time of writing this article" because I understand that symptoms are messages and the body will do whatever it needs to do to get your attention. If I stop listening to those messages and if I stop taking care of my body, symptoms may return.
 
As a practitioner who is passionate about weight loss and the chronic conditions that drive stubborn weight gain, I see this pattern with many clients.
 
Some women are so desperate to lose weight that it creates stress, tension and an energetic imbalance within the body. Many body systems become stressed or depleted and despite doing all the right things, their body refuses to release the weight.
 
Bio energetic medicine can help to neutralise the energy that is out of balance. It can help to create a healthy foundation that allows the body to enter a state where it is able to heal. Stress and healing cannot take place at the same time. And a stressed body that wants to heal will not allow you to release weight if you don't give it the space to heal first. (I speak more about this in my article "Bio Energetic Medicine & Weight Loss")
 
If this article has resonated with you and you would like to explore bio energetics and book in for a bio resonance scan, you can use this link: SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
 
Scans can be done in person in my Evandale, SA clinic or you can post me a hair sample if you would like to work together via Zoom.