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Sue Hardman

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Sue

Is The Blood Sugar Rollercoaster Impacting Your Energy Levels?

July 12, 2023 By Sue

Isn't it remarkable that every choice we make, every habit we cultivate, contributes to the grand masterpiece that is our health? True, some days are tougher than others, but remember, health is a symphony, not a solo.
 
Each part plays a role in creating harmony. With that said, let's uncover one piece of this symphony today—your blood sugar levels.

Understanding and addressing how this influence on your energy can help you compose a beautiful score for your health journey.

Blood Sugar Spikes and Energy Levels - The Hidden Connection

Have you ever been hit by a sudden wave of exhaustion, despite a full night's rest? It's possible that your blood sugar levels are playing a significant role in this energy depletion.Let's dive into how fluctuations in blood sugar can impact your vitality and leave you feeling fatigued.


The Energy Rollercoaster


Sudden spikes in blood sugar followed by rapid drops can lead to hypoglycemia - a state of low blood sugar.

 
This sudden plunge can leave you feeling weak, fatigued, and even dizzy.

It's as if your energy levels are on a rollercoaster ride and the end station is exhaustion.

The Toll of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

When blood sugar isn't well-regulated, it can lead to chronic inflammation and increased oxidative stress within your body. These conditions disrupt cellular functions and interfere with the pathways that produce energy, often resulting in feelings of lethargy and fatigue.

Sleep Quality and Blood Sugar

High blood sugar levels can compromise your sleep qualit

High blood sugar levels can compromise your sleep quality by interfering with the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. This disturbance can cause frequent awakenings during the night and leave you feeling drained the next day.

Nutrient Absorption and Energy Production

Imbalances in blood sugar can hinder your body's ability to absorb and utilise essential nutrients like B vitamins and magnesium, both crucial for energy production.

Without these nutrients, your body struggles to generate and use energy effectively, which can result in fatigue.

Hormonal Imbalances and Energy Levels

Disruptions in your blood sugar regulation, especially with conditions like insulin resistance, can offset the delicate balance of hormones in your body. This imbalance can affect cortisol, the stress-regulating hormone, and your sex hormones, both of which play crucial roles in energy regulation.
 
By maintaining balanced blood sugar levels, you're taking a significant step towards banishing fatigue and embracing a more vibrant, energetic life. 

If you need support in managing your blood sugar levels and overcoming fatigue, book a free discovery call – send me an email [email protected] We're here to help you on your journey to health and vitality.

Featured Supplement: B Vitamins are often hailed as 'energy vitamins' for their crucial role in energy production. 

Here are some benefits of B Vitamins for energy support:

Boost Energy Production: B Vitamins are essential for converting dietary nutrients into ATP, the energy currency of the cells.

Support Nervous System Health: These vitamins support the health of your nervous system, which directly influences energy levels.

Promote Heart Health: By reducing homocysteine levels, a risk factor for heart disease, B Vitamins contribute to overall cardiovascular health and endurance.

Enhance Mood and Cognitive Function: Adequate B Vitamins intake is associated with improved mood and cognitive function, influencing your overall energy levels and well-being.

If you'd like to order my favourite supplemental form of B vitamins, please get in touch.


Filed Under: blog Tagged With: anti-inflammatory, B Vitamins, Blood sugar, fatigue, hormone balancing, hormones, Poor sleep, Womans health

How to balance the good vs the bad oestrogens

May 29, 2023 By Sue

As women, we often find ourselves in positions where we care for others; it's just the nature of who we are. We have roles that vary from being a businesswoman, an employee, keeper of the house, a wife, mother (pet mom), daughter, partner, or boss.

BUT the one role you can't ignore is caring for yourself and the delicate dance that is your female hormones.

In today's blog, we look at the role of oestrogen. This essential hormone varies as you age and throughout your monthly cycle.

What most women don't know is that we need to keep the 'right oestrogen' optimised and manage the reduction of the 'wrong oestrogens'.

Whether you do or don't suffer from hormonal health issues, this is essential information for keeping your oestrogen in the right balance and beneficial for all the women that you know and love.

In the blog below we look at a few things you can do daily that will help your body find its balance naturally. These tools may be all you need to get your body on an even keel again.

Getting the Oestrogen Balance Right

Oestrogen, it’s what makes you feel more like a woman and when a woman's hormones are in balance, she feels fabulous, her skin glows, she has energy and vitality. 

Oestrogen helps makes you feel sexy and flirtatious, helps your libido and it’s one of the most powerful hormones and performs about 400 functions in your body.
 
There are at least two dozen known oestrogens all with various functions and they are produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands. 

The most commonly discussed oestrogens are oestrone, oestradiol, and oestriol and the main function of these oestrogens, as a group, is to tell cells to grow and proliferate.

The Good Oestrogens

Stimulate endometrial cells in preparation for pregnancy, prompt breast tissue growth, maintain function of the sexual organs, stimulate the menstrual cycle, and initiate the bodily changes that occur at puberty.

The benefits of oestrogen you may not have considered:

  • keeps the heart healthy, maintains stable blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease
  • improves blood flow to the brain, helping with memory and fine motor skills. 
  • plays a critical role in maintaining bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
  • helps to increase muscle mass and strength, which can aid in weight management and overall health.
  • helps to keep serotonin levels stable, which can improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. 
  • supports the effectiveness of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and mood enhancers.
  • protects the vaginal walls from thinning and atrophy, keeping the tissues well lubricated and reducing the risk of painful intercourse or vaginal infections.

The ‘Bad’ Oestrogens

There are detrimental oestrogens known as xeno-oestrogens or ‘outsider’ oestrogens these are foreign substances with oestrogen like effects on the body.

Most xeno-oestrogens are derived from petrochemicals and include pesticides, industrial chemicals, cleaners, plastics (water bottles, food containers), nail polish, and car exhaust.  

Previously, these small amounts of oestrogenic activity were dismissed, but recent findings indicate all those little exposures add up.
 

How The ‘Bad’ Oestrogen Affects You

Unfortunately, due to the world we live in, we’re exposed to a lot of the ‘wrong’ type oestrogen which can very easily lead to imbalances like PMS, loss of sex drive, sweet cravings, heavy periods, weight gain, breast swelling, water retention, fatigue, depression and cells multiplying unnecessarily, leading to dangerous situations, such as cancer in some cases.

How can you support your body to increase the balance of good oestrogen versus the bad?

There are a few simple things you can do daily that will help your body find it's balance naturally, these tools may be all you need to get your body on an even keel again.

While it is clearly important to minimise our exposure to these external xeno-oestrogens, the good news is that there are other ways of helping nudge oestrogen levels back into balance through phyto-oestrogens found in food and herbs.
 
Phytoestrogens exert mild oestrogenic effects and block the negative xeno-oestrogens effects on your body, the active chemical constituents are isoflavones, coumestans and lignans, and they work as hormone balancers. They mimic natural oestrogen or block it at oestrogen receptor sites on cells throughout the body. Imagine these receptor binding sites as parking spots reserved for hormones.
 
Once “parked,” the hormone can exert its effect on the cell. If the body’s ‘good’ oestrogen levels are low, phytoestrogens fill those parking spots and gently mimic the role played by oestrogens. If the levels of environmental oestrogens in the body are too high, phytoestrogens block their access to oestrogen receptor sites, substituting their own milder oestrogenic activity for the excessively strong oestrogenic effects created by environmental xeno-oestrogens.

Foods
To promote the good oestrogens increase your intake or make sure you eat these foods which contain phyto-oestrogens daily: 

My favourite functional foods for women to help keep oestrogen in check include – flax seeds, raspberries, organic soy, carrots, apples, cruciferous veg like broccoli and cabbage, chickpeas, beans, lentils, asparagus, fennel, garlic, oats, pears, peas, pomegranate, dried sea vegetables, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, squash and wheat germ.

Apples & carrots have special fibres that help with detoxification and elimination of bad oestrogens. They bind up excess oestrogen that would otherwise recirculate in the body to cause symptoms like PMS, so that they are eliminated through your bowels.

Flax contains lignans, which attach to oestrogen receptors. These lignans have a much weaker oestrogenic effect on the body, thus they are protective against oestrogen excess. Flax seeds are also able to inhibit aromatase, further supporting healthy oestrogen levels. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts our androgens into oestrogens.

Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, which supports methylation of oestrogens in phase 2 liver detox. 

Oestrogen metabolism is SO important. It’s not just about how much oestrogen you have, but how you’re metabolising it.

 Hummus is an easy way a women can increase her intake of phyto-oestrogens daily.
 
Particularly powerful phyto-oestrogens are found in soya products. The high soya content in traditional Japanese diets is likely to be why Japanese women tend not to suffer from menopausal symptoms.

Herbs

Herbal phyto-oestrogens that I use to manage hormonal imbalances like PMS are as Mexican yam, Black cohosh, Dong quai, Agnus castus and many others. 

Many women find immense relief from various hormonal problems and peri-menopause by supplementing with phyto-oestrogens.

 
A qualified herbalist will create blends of herbs to address your specific issues combining the best ‘medicine’ for the job.

Do what you can to minimise your exposure to xeno-oestrogens—you’ll find them in some unlikely places.

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: herbalist, Herbs, hormone balancing, hormone health, hormones, Naturopath, oestrogen balance, phyto-oestrogens, Womans health

Sleep Series #2: Nutrients For Better Sleep

March 9, 2022 By Sue


#2 Sleep Series - food & nutrition

Getting enough sleep is as important for your body as eating right, exercising, and practicing good dental hygiene. What you eat affects your health, your mood and how well you sleep.

In a previous article we looked at the first step towards improving your sleep i.e. Circadian rhythm and Good sleep hygiene – this is the foundation and an inexpensive solution.

Here’s the link to the previous newsletter where you can read more about circadian rhythm, blue light and importance of sunshine.

Once you’re happy that you’ve taken care of your sleep hygiene, then consider your food and nutritional choices. 

Adding sleep-inducing nutrients from food is an easy, natural way to help with sleep. Then, depending on your sleep issues, you may need to add additional supplementation.

Here’s a reminder why sleep is so important.

During sleep:-

  • Cells repair and renew – think beauty sleep.
  • Liver detoxification happens - between 1am & 3 am. 
  • Hormones and neurotransmitters are regulated.
  • Poor sleep lowers leptin and increases ghrelin (making you hungrier) – and makes it harder to lose weight.
  • Blood sugar stabilises. Without enough sleep, you can start to crave sugar, carbohydrates, and coffee in the morning, increase risk of elevated blood sugars, weight gain and diabetes type 2.
  • Your adrenals repair and restore – without rest they produce too much cortisol and can cause an array of health issues. Here’s a blog post on addressing your adrenal fatigue.

Top 3  Nutrients For Better Sleep

You need these key nutrients to produce the hormones that will help calm you down and get you sleeping better.

1. Melatonin is the hormone which helps  regulate your sleep/wake cycle.

Near bedtime, it naturally increases to help you sleep. In the morning before waking, production tapers off to allow you to be awake and alert for the day.

It’s made from a hormone called serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’ – found naturally in the brain and digestive tract. 

Melatonin regulates our daily sleep-wake cycles and keeps our 24-hour circadian rhythms in sync. When melatonin levels are low, or disrupted, that has a significant impact on sleep.

Did you know that melatonin also plays a widespread role in protecting your health, as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting hormone.
 
Food that is high in melatonin includes porridge oats, sour cherries (e.g. as the juice concentrate Cherry Active), bananas, peanuts, grape skins, walnuts, and liquorice. It is also concentrated in herbs such as St John’s wort, sage, and feverfew.

Avoiding caffeine - after midday, is a no brainer because caffeine suppresses melatonin for up to ten hours.

Simply put, increasing your melatonin levels could help you sleep better.

Daily intake – 3mg taken in the evening before bed.


Avoid all ‘blue light’ from screens as this disrupts  production of melatonin.

2. MAGNESIUM - is a key mineral, essential for many aspects of your health. It plays a huge role in improving sleep quality. Magnesium is often referred to as ‘nature’s valium’.

Magnesium helps to activate neurotransmitters responsible for calming the body and mind, and is necessary for the production of serotonin and ultimately melatonin, which helps regulate your sleep/wake cycles.

Being highly stressed or eating a lot of sugar, lowers your magnesium levels.

In addition, it's also essential for the function of more than 300 enzymes in the body, supporting energy production, managing PMS symptoms, reducing anxiety, migraines and even addressing constipation.

Magnesium is found in nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, and leafy greens. and seafood.

Magnesium works in tandem with calcium.

Try supplementing 600mg of calcium and 400mg of magnesium before bed. 

3. TRYPTOPHAN - is a natural precursor to the crucial neurotransmitter serotonin and research has confirmed lower serotonin levels can lead to sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, weight gain, and other health problems.
 
Tryptophan must be absorbed through your diet, as it cannot be produced in your body.

It’s found in turkey, oats and salmon is required by the body in the production of hormones serotonin (aka our happy hormone) and melatonin, (aka our sleep hormone).

The Recommended Daily Intake is 350-400mg


Sleep-inducing foods that are known to encourage sleep because of the nutrients they contain:-

Contain a mix of calcium, potassium, magnesium, tryptophan, and B6. Try these in the evening to help you fall and stay asleep:

Fish – Vitamin B6 is abundant in fish e.g., salmon, tuna, B6 is needed to make melatonin.

Kale & Yogurt – Rich in calcium that helps process the hormones that help you sleep, i.e. tryptophan and melatonin.  

Bananas – are high in potassium to help you stay asleep and contains tryptophan and magnesium which are natural sedatives.

Chicken, turkey, Nuts & Seeds – like walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. Help to boost serotonin levels due to high magnesium and tryptophan.

Nuts and seeds all contain tryptophan and can help more melatonin be produced.


When sleep is miserable - so is everything else.

Sleep problems affect more than 50% of women, especially with the changing hormones during midlife - either difficulty falling asleep, night waking or chronic insomnia.

Are you experiencing this? 

There are usually several factors at play - and it's essential to get personalised support.  

If you’re interested in learning more about working with me, schedule a FREE 20 minute Health Strategy Session now - email me  [email protected]

During this session we’ll discuss your vision for your health, some of the obstacles that stand in your way, and how I can help you sleep better or any other health issues so that you can start to feel your best.

You can also go here to find out more about working with me - Work with Sue


Tired of feeling like you can't get though the day because you juts don't have enough energy. Then this is for you.


I’ve created this FREE e-book to help you get started (or restarted) on your journey to better health.


The Essential Guide - 3 Steps To Endless Energy

Shout Yes if you want to….

  • Look vibrant, feel younger & regain your confidence
  • Get you’re energy levels back up 
  • Stop your moods swings
  • Have clearer thoughts & be mentally alert
  • Have a stronger immune system

Want To Take Your Energy to the Next Level?

If you’re ready to feel better than you have in years, it’s time to try the system I use for myself and countless clients, I know it will also work for you.

Click on the Button  to get your Guide - "3 Steps To Endless Energy"

Click button to get your FREE guide

Filed Under: blog

Sleep Series #1: Circadian Rhythm

October 10, 2021 By Sue

Things you can control!

If one night of poor sleep can make you feel fuzzy-headed then, what about a long-term sleep deficit? The implications can have a much wider impact on your health.

Sleep is not a luxury. if you want to live a long and healthy life, honour sleep as the crucial, powerful healer that it is, and prioritise it in your life now.

Two-thirds of adults throughout all developed nations fail to obtain enough sleep and we’ve disregarded and downplayed the most fundamentally important aspect of our health foundation.

Sleep is often overlooked, yet it’s critically important in achieving hormonal balance, supporting detoxification, weight-loss, brain function, heart balance, DNA repair (or damage), and lots more. YES even weight-loss.

That's why sleep is non-negotiable when it comes to restoring health. Sleep is not a luxury. if you want to live a long and healthy life, honour sleep as the crucial, powerful healer that it is, and prioritise it in your life now.


Two-thirds of adults throughout all developed nations fail to obtain enough sleep and we’ve disregarded and downplayed the most fundamentally important aspect of our health foundation.

Sleep is often overlooked, yet it’s critically important in achieving hormonal balance, supporting detoxification, weight-loss, brain function, heart balance, DNA repair (or damage), and lots more. YES even weight-loss.

That's why sleep is non-negotiable when it comes to restoring health. 

Step 1 & 2: Sleep Disrupters You CAN Control

There're a number of ways insomnia or poor-quality sleep can manifest – maybe you can’t fall asleep, or you wake up multiple times or always at the same time - like 3am, you don't wake up refreshed, hot flushes at night, restless leg and so on…..

How Poor Sleep Affects You 

If you’ve been pushing your sleep issues onto the back burner then maybe it’s time to rethink this. In the long run, the consequences of sleep loss can be dire to your health. 

We know what a bad night’s sleep does to your physical appearance - dark circles and bags under your eyes but what’s far more important than this is the connection to more serious health conditions such as:-

 - Heart disease & stroke
 - Psychological issues - lack of motivation, low mood & depression
 - Hormonal balance
 - Suppresses your immune function
 - Regulating your appetite - weight gain/obesity
 - Brain function - memory, focus & creativity

You might be thinking that this only applies to workaholics or new moms, or people with chronic insomnia.

Just ONE hour of lost sleep will take you 4 days to fully recover. In a 2016 study looking at factors that aged the skin, participants with sleep loss looked “markedly less healthy, less attractive, and more tired.” 

In a 2017 study it was found that approximately seven hours per night is optimal for the health and functioning of most adults. However, there may be differences based on your age, gender, health, activity level, and genetic makeup.

Causes of Poor Sleep Can Be Multi-Factorial

When it comes to addressing your sleep issues there are several factors that could be the underlying cause that you need to consider including: -

  • lifestyle modifications (circadian rhythm)
  • blood sugar issues
  • poor detoxification (liver, gut)
  • hormonal imbalances
  • EMF
  • nutritional deficiencies
  • hormonal factors
  • and  there are also the psychological & emotional factors that play a part – thoughts, worry’s, so on.

STEP 1: ADDRESS SLEEP DISRUPTORS  YOU CAN CONTROL - NOW

  • Avoid Caffeine and sugar later in the day, they keep you awake at night and make it difficult to fall asleep in the first place. 
  • Alcohol - higher alcohol intake results in increased sleep disruption, lowers quality of sleep, and shortens sleep duration.
  • Spicy and acidic foods — For some people, spicy foods can cause indigestion and reflux.
  • Stress — The more cortisol and adrenaline your body produces in the day, the more likely your circadian rhythm will become dysregulated.
  • Good sleep hygiene - Set your sleep schedule and follow a nightly routine, with the right sleep environment. Turn off any blue lights, 
  • Be physically active during the day.

STEP 2: YOUR BODY’S NATURAL OR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Circadian rhythms or your body’s internal body clock, includes the production of hormones that regulate sleep, hunger, and metabolism, over a 24-hour pattern loosely based on light availability. Ultimately, theses hormones influence your weight, performance, and susceptibility to disease.

When and how much you sleep, what you eat, movement all affect your health and are linked to these rhythms.

A key driver of your circadian rhythms is - MELATONIN - a hormone produced primarily in the pineal gland of the brain, peaking one hour into sleep and ebbing two hours after waking. 

Our modern lifestyle, the constant presence of blue light has resulted in us getting out of synch with our body’s and the earths daily rhythms. 

Dimming lights and cutting back on the use of blue light from devices in the evening allows your melatonin to rise naturally, so you can fall asleep.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR CIRCADIAN CLOCK BACK IN SYNCH?
  1. Go to bed by 10pm – sleeping earlier is profoundly healing, aligns your awake/sleep cycles with the natural rhythms of the earth and can be a life-changing experience. 

  2. Get bright light for 30 minutes in the first 30 minutes on waking. Bright light (ideally sunlight) is critical to set your circadian rhythm. In addition to this go outdoors, throughout the day to instantly boost energy. 
Sunshine in the morning

3. Block out blue light from household light bulbs, TVs, computers, Phones after sunset. After the sun goes down, you want to minimise or eliminate your exposure to blue light. Wear blue-blocking glasses. 

4. Darkness at Night While You Sleep block out all light from outside, even a tiny amount of light (like 5 lux) can impact your circadian rhythm.
This amount is the amount of ambient light from streetlights. Use a sleep mask. Turn off all light sources, even red ones anywhere in your home.

5. Fast For At Least 3 Hours Before Bed Eat at least 3 hours before bed. Remember the benefits of autophagy. If you’re hungry before bed increase calories during the day to prevent waking up or hunger before bed. Waking up in the night hungry or anxious can be a sign of poor blood sugar control.

6. Time Most of Your Daily Activity During Daylight Hours. Don’t exercise at least 4 hours before. Workout during daylight hours. Movement and activity are synergistic with other triggers - light, temperature, and meal + nutrient timing. It amplifies the circadian signal. 

7. Get Your Temperature Right. Research indicates that temperature plays an important role in circadian signalling. Colder temperatures, signal it’s night time and trigger sleepiness. Warmer temperatures in the morning trigger wakefulness. Paradoxically, cold in the morning can switch on your body’s heater. Heat in the late evening from a bath/shower can cause a drop in temperature that triggers sleep. 

8. Start Your Day With Movement. Cyclic AMP is an important cellular signalling molecule that resets your circadian rhythm and tells your brain that it’s daytime (it works synergistically with light, temperature, and food). The best way to trigger cAMP is EXERCISE and movement. Walking outside, yoga, pilates, etc. ... or intense exercise also works for those who are capable of that. 

9. Use Sound To Entrain Circadian Rhythm. The sound of birds in the morning can influence your circadian rhythms. Wake up with a gentle soothing noise or sounds of birds. Then shift into music that energises you. Conversely, at night, in the few hours before bed, keep the volume of any noise (TV, computer, conversation, etc.) relatively low. There is research behind this! 

10. Have a Routine Try do things at the same time each day, like getting up, eating and exercising.This entrains the nervous system, brain and biology for good circadian rhythm signalling.

Conclusion

There’s many reasons for your poor sleep, and it’s critical to know the root cause behind the symptoms so that we can address it and ensure you have a good nights sleep.

tired

tired

Solutions for better sleep – it depends on you!

Here are a number of possible underlying causes of any sleep issue:-

  • Is it a lifestyle issue - Circadian rhythm / noise / blue light / emf / room temp?
  • Could it be diet or food related / nutrient deficiency / neuro-transmitters?
  • Hormones - Poor sleep is common the older we get with hormonal fluctuations in levels of oestrogen and progesterone. 
  • Burnout, adrenal dysregulation and high stress levels lead to elevated cortisol that also affects sleep quality.
  • Managing your emotions - Stress, worry 

 If you’ve got this far and you’re looking for more support with disrupted, non-rejuvenating sleep then I encourage you to please get in touch - [email protected]

Filed Under: blog

7 Ways to a stronger immune system

July 20, 2021 By Sue

There are myriad factors that affect your immune system. The changing of seasons, your busy routines, and pollution are just a few examples of factors that lead to lower immunity, colds, flu, and allergies. When combined with poor choices that we make in terms of our diet, activity level, and prioritising our health, suffering from diseases and viral infections becomes inevitable.

However, there are just as many ways that we can boost our immune system to keep the illnesses and diseases at bay. They’re easy to adopt and may help you a great deal in boosting your immune system and staying healthier for longer.

The best approach to getting and maintaining a strong immune system is by consistently making great choices for your body and mind throughout the year.

As a result, when the seasons change or stress takes over, you’ll be ready with a strong immune system to fight off all such problems. In this blog, we provide you with seven easy and natural ways to boost your immunity and gain more energy and vitality to lead a better life.

1. ADD GREENS TO YOUR MEALS DAILY

Green vegetables are a source of protein; chlorophyll; many essential minerals like magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium; vitamins C, K, E and many of the B vitamins; and are loaded with antioxidants.  

 These nutrients make leafy greens incredible at detoxification, blood purification, and boosting immunity. Try to add as many green vegetables to your daily diet as possible. 

 SOME OF THE MOST BENEFICIAL GREEN VEGETABLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

Watercress, Spinach, Kale, Lettuce, Beet greens, Rocket/arugula, Collards, Chard, Mustard greens

Fresh herbs like parsley, mint, cilantro, basil

 3 Ways to Add Greens to your Daily Diet

SALAD: Eat a delicious salad. You can fill a large bowl with various greens you love and add some of your favorite raw or cooked vegetables. Top this with a healthy dressing to enjoy the salad. 

 SMOOTHIE: Add leafy greens to your juice or smoothie. Blend fruits, water, and vegetables together to make a healthy green smoothie that will work wonders for boosting your immune system.

 COOKED: Steam, stir-fry, or sauté the greens with whatever vegetable you are making and top it with a marinara sauce or lemon juice.

 Adding greens to your daily diet in the ways described above can help you load your body with all the nutrients it requires to function properly and boost your immune system with much-needed antioxidants.

2. ADD GREEN VEGETABLE JUICES TO YOUR DAILY DIET


One of the major benefits that green juices provide is due to the chlorophyll, which is a very important protein compound that acts as a cell stimulator, rejuvenator, cleanser, internal healer, and much more. Studies have proven that chlorophyll is converted into hemoglobin by our body, thereby enriching the blood.

 Health Benefits of Chlorophyll

The power of sunshine in chlorophyll is wonderfully cleansing in the body. The greener the leaves, the more concentrated the amount of chlorophyll.

  • Increases hemoglobin in the blood.
  • Has detoxification effect.
  • Eliminates blood sugar problems.
  • Reduces body odours.
  • Works as an antiseptic in wounds and speeding up the healing process.
  • Reduces inflammatory troubles and pain related to it.
  • Improves bowel movement.

Other Important Ingredients present in Green Juices

Other important ingredients of green vegetable juices are important nutrients such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and live enzymes. 

 They also provide vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, and vitamins C, E, and K. 

Green juices provide you with unimaginable benefits. Their ingredients are absorbed on the cellular level and do not burden the digestive system. While traveling down the digestive tract, these juices cleanse everything from fungus, bacteria, parasites and yeast to toxic materials found in the blood. Enjoy green juice daily to maximise your benefits from them and boost your immune system.

3. AVOID REFINED SUGAR AND PROCESSED FOODS

Refined sugar and processed food can be harmful to your health, as they have been linked to serious diseases like cancer and heart diseases. Sugar is addictive because it triggers the happy hormone. 

TO ENJOY GOOD HEALTH AND AVOID THESE PITFALLS, A LIST OF TIPS TO HELP YOU KICK THE REFINED SUGAR AND PROCESSED FOOD HABITS.

 GET MOTIVATED: To get yourself motivated about quitting the bad habit of refined sugar and processed food, read some books or topics that might help you. For more assistance then grab the guide on how to End Sugar Cravings  

 AVOID DRINKING ANY FORM OF FIZZY, SUGARY, SWEETENED DRINKS: The amount of sweetener in soft drinks is very high. Dropping the soft drinks eliminates the bad habit instantly. 

 DON’T EAT OR BUY PACKAGED FOODS: Try to make your own snacks at home, such as biltong, fruit, nuts or seeds, to name a few healthy options.

 CHOOSE WISELY WHILE EATING OUT: Sugar is hidden in many dishes at restaurants; try to stick to grilled chicken/fish/meat and salads or roasted vegetables.

 EAT A BALANCED DIET CONCENTRATED IN PROTEIN AND VEGETABLES: Removing sugar and refined food is not enough; If you add more vegetables and proteins to your diet, you will notice that you feel much better and don’t get the craving for sugar as much. 

 DEAL WITH CRAVINGS: You might get some serious cravings for sugary foods once you try to leave it behind for the better. Try fending off such cravings by having a fermented food or drink such as homemade sauerkraut, coconut kefir, or kombucha. The sourness of these foods can negate the effect of sugar cravings and provides the body with healthy probiotics to reduce cravings and boost the immune system.

 GO HAVE FUN: Find other great distractions to avoid unhealthy foods like taking your kids to the park, reading a good book, or enjoying nature. Start enjoying life without sugar.

4. ADD IMMUNITY- BOOSTING MEDICINAL MUSHROOM 

Medicinal mushrooms are the new superfood that helps improve the immune system. They can be used as dried mushrooms, whole or in powdered form, and brewed in hot water to drink as a tea. 

 There is nothing new in using mushrooms to improve health; they have been used to promote health and vitality for thousands of years in Eastern cultures, Russia, North America, and Canada.  Mushrooms such as reishi and chaga can be taken as a  tea to promote good health and boost your immune system. 

WHY DRINK MUSHROOMS?

Mushrooms, also known as "medicinal mushrooms", are "adaptogens.” Adaptogens are plant immune modulators that can balance the immune system and improve health. 

 Mushrooms have better bioavailability when brewed as a tea, as the hot water improves extraction of the immune activating beta-glucans.

 When choosing your mushroom tea, look for organic mushroom with less pesticides and heavy metals from the environment.

 Reishi - is known as the "Queen Healer", the mushroom of immortality in Chinese medicine. It’s the most famous of the healing mushrooms and is a true adaptogen. It is believed to promote calmness and centeredness.

There are six types of reishi, among which red reishi is the most potent. The mushroom has a distinct bitter flavor due to the large amount of triterpenes, the compounds that contain antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Reishi is famous for its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It improves circulation, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, blood sugar, and more. Unlike other mushrooms, reishi can grow on both dead and living trees.

 Chaga  - also known as the “King of Plants” because it contains beta-glucans, compounds which help the body fight diseases. It is often used to alleviate upset stomachs, hunger, fatigue, and to increase energy. 

Chaga can both quiet and activate your immune system and encourages the internal balance. An over-active immune system tends to create skin disorders, allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders, so it is important to calm it down.  

Chaga helps to eliminate toxins, has anti-viral abilities, stimulates the central nervous system, and has a high level of antioxidants. Wild Chaga is found on trees that are at least 40 years old, and it takes between three to five years for the fungus to reach maturity before harvesting. Chaga quality and potency depend upon the conditions in which it grew. The best Chaga grows in harsh climates.

5. FOCUS ON YOUR BREATHE


Immune systems are affected both by negative thought processes and stress. Our lives begin and end with the breath and, in between these two moments of birth and death, most of us will take countless breaths but rarely give it a moment's notice.

Scientists have observed that animals know how to shake off the stress of life-threatening situations by proper breathing to bring themselves back to a relaxed state. This ability to maintain balance is an intuitive trait for both animals and humans. However, humans have suppressed this ability and have become unable to maintain the equilibrium due to the modern lifestyle, which includes unnatural living conditions, high stress, environmental pollutants, and poor quality of food. 

We are under constant siege of recurring health and emotional issues which constantly obstruct the quality of life. Traumas such as emotional neglect, violent abuse, or physical injury have made us forget our instinctive selves. 

Usually, the breath is the first physiological response to being affected by trauma, but the change in breathing patterns is rarely noticed. Breathing has the ability to, deeply calm the mind and body by bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to whatever you are dealing with. Take some time out from your daily routine to breathe deeply and do so in a fresh, natural environment to enable the inhalation of fresh air and maximise the benefits.

  • Helps to reduce stress responses by the regulation of the nervous system which starves the energy from the healthy immune system and doesn't let it function properly.
  • Increases vital energy and helps the body in the constant process of self-healing and detoxification.
  • Accelerates the regeneration of tissues by helping the regenerative systems of the body to heal/regenerate.
  • Speeds up the recovery process from trauma and disease.

6. SLEEP AND REST

Our body needs regular sleep and rest so that it can perform at its best and fend off any illnesses and symptoms that come its way. The aim should be to get at least seven hours of sleep every night with a regular sleep pattern. This helps to create a regular cycle for the body to help restore, rejuvenate, and improve the immune system and make it stronger. Taking a brief nap during the day can help to switch your mind off and relax which leads to strengthening and balancing of the immune system.

Research has shown that there is a direct link between sleep and the immune system. One of the consequences of sleep deprivation is a weakening of the immune system which leaves us unprotected when the next virus comes to attack and we are more prone to fall ill. Getting enough sleep holds the key to staying healthy and making the immune system stronger. 

Research has shown that even a small amount of sleep loss can trigger an immune system response in the body that increases inflammation which may cause tissue damage. And, it may also lead to a further linkage between sleep problems and increased risks for diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, obesity, and specific cancers.

 The reason that our immune system functioning is so closely tied to our sleep is that certain disease-fighting substances are released or created when we sleep.  Our bodies need these hormones, proteins, and chemicals to fight off diseases and infections. But sleep deprivation decreases the production of these substances, leaving us more susceptible to each new virus and bacteria that comes our way. This may lead us to be sick for longer periods of time as our bodies lack the resources to fight back the enemies. 

Different phases of sleep are helpful for different functions within our bodies.  The first and second phases of sleep help to settle in, which results in rhythmic breathing and a lowered body temperature.  The third and fourth stages involve the restoration process of the body. During these phases, the muscles relax and the blood supply increases.  The body uses this time to repair tissue damage and grow new tissue. In this way, important hormones are released and our energy levels increases. These last two stages play a critical role in maintaining a healthy immune system and any sleep disturbance in them may have a direct impact on health.

 Consistency is the key to good sleep hygiene and boosting our immune systems. Be careful not to oversleep as too much sleep is not good for us either.  Adults who oversleep or sleep 10 hours a night regularly may be at a higher risk for some diseases and medical conditions.

 The bottom line is that sleep is essential for our body to remain healthy.  Getting a good night’s sleep keeps us alert, active, and in good health during cold and flu season and all year long.

7. EXERCISE & MOVE DAILY

The last—but most certainly not the least—effective way to boost the immune system is to engage in regular exercise or physical activity. Physical exertion helps to decrease the chances of developing heart disease. It also keeps bones healthy and strong.

Physical activity helps flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways, greatly reducing the chances of getting cold, flu or other viral illnesses.

Exercise also helps to bring changes in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC), the body's immune system cells that fight diseases. These proactive antibodies, or WBCs, circulate more rapidly and detect illnesses earlier than they might have before. 

 The slight rise in the body temperature during and after we exercise helps to prevent bacteria from growing and aids the body in fending off infections better.

 Exercise also proves helpful in slowing down the release of stress hormones. Many diseases attack when we are stressed and vulnerable, so lower stress hormones protect from many illnesses in this way.

 The best idea is to engage in a moderate exercise routine and continue it regularly and consistently to maximize the benefits. 

  • Bicycling a few times a week.
  • Taking daily walks for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Going to the gym every other day.
  • Playing your favorite sport regularly.

 Exercise makes us feel healthier and more energetic and helps to feel better about ourselves. Engage in regular exercise to boost your immune system and stay healthy by fending off diseases. 

 Consistently incorporating these steps into your life can produce amazing outcomes in terms of boosting your immune system. Help your immunity by following a proper diet plan that includes leafy green vegetables, which are loaded with all the nutrients required by the body to function properly. Juicing the greens also helps to get on the path to a healthier tomorrow. Another key to boosting immunity is avoiding sugars and processed foods, which may be attractive and addictive but are extremely harmful to our body and health. 

 Boost your mind, body, and soul by adding mushroom teas that are considered the superfoods of the year for their great benefits. Getting enough rest and sleep also helps to keep the body on track. Physical exertion and proper breathing are also essential and significant to maintaining your body’s health. 

Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family.

Had on-going low immunity? Want to know what to do?

If you're looking for additional, tailored support for yourself, so that you are protected against 'bad' flus and bugs, you can be prepared by supporting and strengthening your immune system beforehand. 

There are herbs and supplements for your specific needs. I can share these with you.

All consultations are available online. Email [email protected]

Filed Under: blog

A Healthy Digestive System affects way more than you think

June 15, 2021 By Sue


If you’ve a health problem then the root cause could be in your digestive system or ‘gut’, yes your gut!

What does the gut have to do with your mood?


manage dysbiosis

Your gut, aka "inside your belly", has been proven to be your bodies literal "second brain". For years, the medical world has been trying to figure out what causes our moods to change and what causes common problems that most of us face like stress, anxiety, and even depression. These are common problems, and we know they are linked to serotonin, but did you know that 95% of serotonin isn't even produced in the brain? 

Serotonin is actually produced in the gut.

What we eat is directly related to our emotional health. Our gut consists of bacteria and we need those bacteria to have a healthy balance or the rest of us will not be balanced including our mood. Your gut and your brain work together, so if one is out of balance the other will be also. 

Have you ever had an upset stomach because your mind was stressed? Well, think about it, if it works one way it works both ways. There have been many scientific studies that have linked mood problems to gut problems and vice versa. 

Is your gut balanced with good bacteria? That is the recipe for a healthy gut and a healthy mood. The best way to make sure your body has healthy bacteria for your gut is to feed your gut healthy bacteria. Some symptoms of an unhealthy gut include gas, bloating, nausea, sugar cravings, and more. 

What you may not realise is that there are many seemingly unrelated health issues (often not recognised by doctors) that are linked to your gut health, such as:-

the cause of your weight gain, eczema, acne, arthritis, allergies, autoimmune disease, rashes, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, dementia, cancer, hormone imbalances and more. 

So having a healthy gut can mean a lot more than being free of bloating or heartburn! 

 It’s absolutely crucial to your health and is connected to everything that happens in your body. Treating the ‘gut’ is where you may need to start ‘fixing’ a health problem, it’s where I always start.

 Digestive disorders are extremely common and include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, reflux, gas, plus more…..

 Having a healthy gut is absolutely essential if you want to achieve optimum health.

 Why is your gut is so important?   

Your gut has BIG JOB, and it’s way more complex than a single tube running from one end to the other, like the fact that about 75% of your immune system is in your digestive tract.

 Your entire immune system is only protected from the outside world (toxins, viruses etc.) by a very thin and fragile lining – only one cell thick. If the delicate lining of the gut is damaged and the barrier penetrated, your immune system goes onto high alert to ‘fight’ these foreign particles, this is what can make you allergic to foods, easily sick and produces inflammation.

 Your gut also has an ecosystem of its own, with billions of essential bacteria that digest food, regulate hormones, remove toxins and produce vitamins to keep you healthy. If this ecosystem goes out of balance with too many of the wrong kind of bacteria, like parasites and yeasts, you may have what is known as dysbiosis.

 Your digestive system is sometimes referred to as your second brain it’s also created out of the same type of tissue and has more neurotransmitters than your brain. Messages constantly travel back and forth between your gut-brain and the brain in your head, any disruption to these messages will affect your health.

 Neuroscience shows promising research in an area called ‘brain-gut’ interaction. indicating that our ‘gut instinct’ is a physical reality based on an intricate system of feedback, originating in the digestive region. Chronic stress (and other negative emotions like anger, anxiety and sadness) can trigger symptoms and disease in your gut.

 As Harvard researchers explain: the connection works both ways, meaning that while stress can cause gut problems, gut problems can also wreak havoc on your emotions.

 If your gut is not eliminating efficiently and if you’re not very ‘regular’ then toxins produced by your body build up and as you can imagine it’s going to impact your health.

 You may be able to change your chronic symptoms, simply by fixing your digestion.

 9 Essential Questions To Help You Get Your Gut Healthy: 

  1. Are you eating enough fibre? Like vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
  2. Do you have any food sensitivities? These are usually caused by gluten, dairy, yeast, corn, soy and eggs.
  3. Are there any irregularities in your gut? Wind, bloating, loose stools, discomfort, constipation-check for parasites, bacteria and yeast.
  4. Have you had any antibiotics? You may need to repopulate your gut with good bacteria.
  5. Do you need to boost your digestive enzymes? You may need digestive enzymes to convert food to what your body needs.
  6. Do you need to rebalance your gut bacteria? Take probiotic supplements.
  7. Do you have inflammation in your gut? You may need omega-3 to reduce any inflammation.
  8. Has your gut lining been compromised? You can heal your gut lining using healing nutrients.
  9. Are you often stressed or anxious?

Getting your digestion back to normal can be done and it’s essential if you want to achieve vibrant health. 

Is it possible that something like eczema starts in the gut?  Yes, if there is a leaky gut – when the one-cell lining has been compromised and food particles enter the blood stream, the body reacts as if it’s fighting foreign invaders. 

Possible solutions – take probiotics and glutamine to rebalance the ecosystem and heal the lining of the digestive system, this will prevent food particles from going where they shouldn’t. 

Probiotics can be in pill form, or you can get them right through your diet. Excellent sources of probiotics include kefir and fermented or cultured foods and beverages. 

 Keeping a healthy gut in check will help you to digest food properly, absorb vital nutrients, and maintain a healthy state of mind aka your mood. 

 What steps have you taken to fix your digestion? How have they worked? Work on the inner tube of your body using the steps above and watch as your symptoms stat to disappear.

As a Naturopath I can help you address your digestive issues that may be affecting the quality of your life, formulating a personalised treatment plan to suit each person depending on their needs. 

To get the support you need to manage your weight, hormones, skin, digestive issues, stress, anxiety or energy levels please contact [email protected]

You can make use of my Complimentary 15 minute phone call to get your questions answered.

Filed Under: blog

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