Gut Health & Mental Health: How connected are they?

Many of us have learned to “trust our gut.” But if we ask most people what our digestive tract is for, they’ll probably explain it as a way of absorbing nutrients and disposing of waste. So where do phrases such as “trusting our gut” or “unable to stomach the results” come from? It turns out there is a two-way street between our digestive organs and our brains. What we eat and the state of our digestive tract can have a profound impact on our moods and behaviors. And probably unsurprisingly at this point, our gut microbiome is also involved.

Gut Health, Inflammation, Mental Health, microbiomeKatherine Matthews30 July 2022microbiome, stressComment

Fatty Liver Disease: How diet and herbs can reduce fatty liver and improve your liver health.

It is normal for the liver to contain some fat, but if fat accounts for more than 10% of the liver’s weight, then liver function may be impaired and serious complications may develop. There are many ways we can lean up our liver and get our health back on track through diet, herbs and exercise.

Gut Health, Inflammation, NAFLD, Fatty Liver DiseaseKatherine Matthews30 June 2022liver, Fatty Liver, Fatty Liver DiseaseComment

Depression and Inflammation: Is hidden inflammation affecting your mood?

In the last 2 years we have all experienced Crisis in the form of a pandemic. In New Zealand we have seen a significant increase in Depression and Anxiety during this time(1). With women 58% more likely to be affected by depression than men (2). Termed by psychologists as ‘crisis fatigue’, a combination of chronic stress, anxiety, poor behavioral habits and loneliness, this constant state of pandemic alertness has led to to a state of apathy and burnout for many people (1). How is this connected to inflammation?

Is one glass really ok? The harmful effects of alcohol and how to reduce them.

Many people associate having a drink with a feeling of relaxation or a warm ‘buzz’, essentially using alcohol as a means of harmless fun. Whilst one or two glasses of wine, or a few beers, can be a nice way of unwinding, excessive consumption can have a significant impact on your health. So how does alcohol affect your body? Slurred speech, poor coordination, nausea, vomiting, lack of judgment, volatile emotions, and blackouts can all follow excessive alcohol consumption. Most people will have experienced one or more of these effects at some point, crossing the line from a moderate intake to an unhealthy consumption. Unfortunately or fortunately for us women these effects can often happen more quickly and have long term impacts on our hormones and menstrual cycles. Making alcohol my number one red flag when it comes to women hormones imbalances.

Fatigue, Female Health, Gut Health, Hormonal balance, InflammationKatherine Matthews5 May 2022alcoholComment

Vitamin D : Why you may not be getting enough and how to prevent deficiency.

Vitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin. This amazing vitamin is synthesized from sunlight on our skin. In New Zealand with our long summers at our batches, the many days we spend outdoors, and lying on the beach, you wouldn't think we were susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. Commonly I hear from my clients, “I only need to expose myself for 10-20 minutes a day to get my vitamin D, right?” Unfortunately it's just not that simple, as studies estimate that almost half of the population in New Zealand have average vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L classified as a mild deficiency, while 3-4% of people have levels lower than 17.5 nmol/L, classified as a severe deficiency. There are many ways in which you can prevent becoming deficient. Read on to find out how!

Bone Health, ImmunityKatherine Matthews8 September 2021Vitamin D Comment

Time to 'un normalize' menstrual cramps or period pain: Understanding your root causes.

If your struggling with period pain, uncomfortable menstrual cramps, or mildly annoying and painful periods each month your not alone. About 50% of all women are struggling with you. In one study in New Zealand half the women reported some dysmenorrhea, and 520 had 'significant period pain (1). It is so common that women often think it’s normal (2) and don’t seek help for it (3). I am here to tell you that pain is never normal, and you don’t have to put up with it! There are effective, natural ways to combat period pain, so you can feel more like yourself all month long.

Female Health, Hormonal balanceKatherine Matthews4 July 2021Period pain, dysmenorrhea, menstrual crampsComment

Tackling Traveler's Diarrhea aka Bali Belly Naturally: How to Get Your Gut Back on Track After Getting Sick on Holiday

Evading this season’s colds, coughs and flu can feel like an uphill battle through a treacherous warzone. As you forge through uncharted territory, you remain constantly vulnerable to an enemy ambush closing in on you. The same can be said of your body during winter, when it must regularly defend against viruses and bacteria. Poor battle tactics, such as inadequate immune defenses, can increase the chance of viruses and bacteria leading to an infection. Fortunately, arming yourself with tools that enhance your immune response can turn the tables on the enemy and mount a counterattack that could win the war, allowing you to conquer any bugs that may come your way.

Natural Resilience Against Colds and Flus: Lifestyle Habits that puts you at risk and how to fix them.

Evading this season’s colds, coughs and flu can feel like an uphill battle through a treacherous warzone. As you forge through uncharted territory, you remain constantly vulnerable to an enemy ambush closing in on you. The same can be said of your body during winter, when it must regularly defend against viruses and bacteria. Poor battle tactics, such as inadequate immune defenses, can increase the chance of viruses and bacteria leading to an infection. Fortunately, arming yourself with tools that enhance your immune response can turn the tables on the enemy and mount a counterattack that could win the war, allowing you to conquer any bugs that may come your way.

Sleep, Immunity, microbiome, Vitamin CKatherine Matthews21 April 2021Immune System, colds, flus, sleeo, microbiome Comment

How to recover from Glandular Fever, naturally.

Sick and tired of being tired and sick? You may want to do some investigating, especially if you are noticing symptoms persisting for longer than a few days. Glandular fever or mononucleosis (mono), often transmitted through saliva, is commonly known as the kissing disease. It is a potentially debilitating illness that is most commonly seen in young adults and adolescents. The most common cause of mono is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Pregnant and Plant Based? Your Guide to a Healthy Vegan/Vegetarian pregnancy.

Eating whole food plant based has many benefits. However sometimes finding trusted information for how to do this in pregnancy can be hard. Plant foods provide plenty of vitamins and minerals that keep you feeling healthy, however, like any other diet it requires careful planning to prevent nutritional deficiencies. This is particularly the case during pregnancy, when nutrient requirements skyrocket to support the growth of your baby, making deficiency more likely to occur. The key to a healthy pregnancy is ensuring you have your fill of key nutrients so that you and bub remain healthy and happy.

Pregnancy, PreconceptionKatherine Matthews8 March 2021pregnancy, pregnant, vegan, vegetarianComment

Pregnancy & Omega 3's: Why they are Essential For Your Baby’s Brain.

If you have ever browsed the shelves of your local supermarket or Pharmacy, you will have seen bottles of omega-3 capsules, typically recommended for maintaining a healthy heart and for reducing inflammation in conditions such as arthritis. Did you know that these essential fatty acids are also vital for a healthy pregnancy and for the health of your baby?

Pregnancy, Preconception, BreastfeedingKatherine Matthews4 March 2021pregnant, pregnancy, Baby, Preconception, omega 3Comment

Planning Pregnancy? Create your Dream Team of Pregnancy Health Experts.

The time and effort you spend optimising your health during pregnancy can provide your baby with the best start in life, and have lasting effects on your child’s health for years to come. It can also make pregnancy an easier and more enjoyable experience for you.

Pregnancy, PreconceptionKatherine Matthews24 February 2021pregnant, pregnancy, Baby, PreconceptionComment

Lifestyle and Herbal support for Anxiety

Every year, around one in four New Zealanders experience anxiety in a way that makes it difficult to cope with daily life. Ranging in severity from a background level of worry to an overpowering force, anxiety can lead to difficulty sleeping, a racing heart, panic attacks, fatigue, digestive upset, sweating or headaches – interfering with your ability to live your life.

While anxiety can often feel insurmountable, there are several worry-busting habits you can develop to help minimize its effects. Read on to discover these top four habits that can leave you feeling more calm and in control.

Anxiety in an unpredictable world: Creating head space naturally.

Feeling occasionally anxious is a normal response to modern life especially in the unpredictable events of 2020. However we don’t want this feeling to overwhelm and fill most of our days. It is hard when we are in this anxiety loop to get out of it which is where herbal medicine and specific nutrients can be our greatest friend. In this article I will list some of my favourite herbs and nutrients that regulate calming neurotransmitter production, calm down the fight flight response and help create that brain space so you can create shifts for long term reduction in your anxiety.

Mental Health, AnxietyKatherine Matthews29 September 2020anxiety, mental health, fibre, InflammationComment

The microbiome-fibre connection

When it comes to regularity, its all about the fibre!

Did you know there are some indigenous populations that eat over 500 different kinds of plant fibres every year? Most of us are hoping to get 30 different kinds a week let alone 500. As you will be reading about soon, a variety of plant foods builds ‘microbiota variety’ in the microbiome which supports regularity when it comes to using the rest room.

Gut Health, Energy, Immunity, microbiomeKatherine Matthews22 August 2020Gut Health, bloating, gas, fibre fueledComment

Probiotics 101

Now days there are so many probiotics on the shelf. Should I buy refrigerated or shelf stable? Multi strain or single strain? This article will answer some of the many questions around probiotics and how they may help in different ages and stages of life.

Getting to the Guts of your Health

Great health is all in the Gut. From the first day of school through to your well-deserved retirement, challenges can arise at every age; your health is no exception to this. More and more, research is showing that your microbiome (i.e. your gut bacteria) is foundational for good health.

Fatigue, Inflammation, Gut Health, Energy, Immunity, microbiomeKatherine Matthews10 July 2020Pain, Inflammation, Gut Health, bloating, gasComment

Reducing Pain and Inflammation Naturally

Pain is a burden we carry that often we hide. 20% of New Zealanders are suffering from chronic pain, and pain is the most common reason someone will visit a healthcare Practitioner in New Zealand. There is no question that we’re a nation in pain and inflamed. To understand how to reduce pain, we need to look at its main cause, inflammation, which is triggered in response to tissue injury or infection.

Fatigue, Inflammation, Muscle PainKatherine Matthews24 June 2020Tumeric, Pain, Inflammation, MagnesiumComment

Understanding Fatigue

As a collective we’re experiencing unparalleled levels of fatigue, but why? Simply put, our bodies are trying to function in a world they just weren’t designed to live in. On top of that we are dealing with a pandemic, social distancing, and unprecedented changes in our working lives. A far cry from the simpler hunter-gatherer world our genes evolved in, each day we are exposed to an increasing amount of stressors.

Sleep, Energy, FatigueKatherine Matthews19 June 2020Winter Wellness, magnesium, CoQ10, B VitaminsComment

Vitamin C: Immune System Benefits, Liposomal vs Other Forms, and Dosage for Cold Prevention.

It's that time of year where mandarins are plentiful and the vitamin C rich fruit are everywhere. Mother nature is just subtly reminding us of an important ally during winter.

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid and is widely recognised as a potent antioxidant that also enhances our immune system. It is found in many areas of the body.

When it comes to regularity, its all about the fibre!

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