Thrive Naturopathy

04/03/2024

You may have noticed that your tolerance to alcohol has decreased as you've gotten older? Maybe you've become more sentitive to even smaller amounts of alcohol?
Well, if there was ever a time of life to reasses how much alcohol we drink, it's our midlife years, especially if you are in the Perimenopausal transition to Menopause.
Our liver's ability to detoxify and metabolise alcohol gradually declines with age.
As liver function becomes less efficient, it can lead to alcohol remaining in our system for longer.
Our liver also regulates the balance and metabolism of our hormones, including
Estrogen. Drinking alcohol can delay the liver from breaking down and clearing estrogen levels that can be high and fluctuating at this time, which, amongst things, can lead to worsened or more intense Perimenopausal Symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, heart palpitations, weight gain,low mood, anxiety, headaches and sleep disturbances,
Wine can be particularly troublesome as some people can become more sensitive to the chemicals it contains such as sulphites, histamine and tyramine.
No judgement, I love a glass of bubbles myself but these Midlife Years really are the time to reasess how much you drink and consider the impact it might be having on your health and hormones, not to mention it's long-term health implications.

12/01/2024

Periods of transformation in our lives can feel destabilising but they are also empowering and exciting. Whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual, embrace the times of change and transformation, get the support and information you need and thrive ❤️

26/12/2023

Wishing all my beautiful patients and followers a wonderful, safe and HAPPY holiday season.
You're support means the world to me. Thank you for entrusting me with your health this year.
I will be taking a break with my family for the summer and I will be back consulting January 9 2024 (zoom consults onlyin Jan).
Please email me any time for orders restocks: jade@thrivenaturopathy.com.au
I can't wait to help you THRIVE in 2024.
Lots of Love Naturopath & Nutritionist Jade

13/12/2023

THIS IS A REMINDER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
Pre-holiday and Holiday Burn out is real. You might already be feeling it? Exhaustion, loss of interest and productivity. Everything feels hard?

Whilst it can be such a fun and wonderful time of year, the lead up to the holidays can also be a time of increased demands on you - physically, socially, emotionally & financially.

The pressure and load (including the mental load) can feel very overwhelming and exhausting and leave you feeling a little HO HO HUM 

HERE ARE MY TOP TIPS TO PREVENT BURN OUT OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON

1. Listen to your body. It will tell you when you have overdone the indulging and drinking more than your body can handle right now. Try to keep your general day to day diet as normal and healthy as possible.

2. Indulge with intention – just because you’ve had something unhealthy doesn’t mean you have to right off the whole day. Enjoy the yummy treat and move on.

3. Be Ok with saying no. You don’t have to go to everything you are invited to. You don’t have to try and fit everything in and please everyone. Know your limitations and ensure you get some downtime to recharge.

4. Don’t forgo your sleep. It will be your undoing.

5. Try to keep some sort of exercise in your day. You could go for a Pre -Christmas Catch up Walk with a friend instead of a drink.

6. Be Kind to Yourself ###
-care

13/12/2023

Anxiety and Hot flushes (flashes) are both very common symptoms of Perimenopause (and Menopause). But, did you know that women that experience anxiety during Perimenopause are also more likely to experience vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats?

Anxiety and other emotional/ psychological symptoms of Perimenopause often precede the onset of physical symptoms, such as hot flushes, sometimes by years so it can be tricky to connect your new onset or increased anxiety to changing hormone levels.

DM me or make an appointment if you are looking for help to manage your mood and anxiety and / or hot flushes and night sweats.

This excerpt was taken from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/severe-mental-illness-and-the-perimenopause/8D072AACBCD3C7888C173B36635C08C3.

04/12/2023

Perimenopause is NOT the same as Menopause. It is a process of hormonal transition that leads to Menopause. Menopause is essentially a one day event defined as 12 consecutive months without a period.
Perimenopause itself can be broken down into stages, reflecting changing levels of ovarian progesterone and estrogen levels throughout the process. This means the potential for different physical and emotional symptoms along the way and the need for changing management strategies.
I hope this helps make better sense of The Perimenopause Transition and where you might be in the process.

16/11/2023

My new and improved website is Live!!
Check it out www.thrivenaturopathy.com.au

03/11/2023

If you struggle to maintain a healthy weight, or you really struggle to lose weight, especially from around your middle, it is VERY likely that you're hormones are involved.

Hormones are chemical messengers in our body and we have lots of them.

But, some of the BIG players when it comes to managing our weight, appetite and cravings are
* Leptin,
*Ghrelin
* Insulin,

Oestrogen and Cortisol & Thyroid hormones are 3 more that are most likely involved (more on them later).

Have a read above to understand how an imbalance of these hormones may be impacting your weight ( fat accumulation).

Balancing hormones is essential when it comes to managing your weight for the long-term, especially in Perimenopause & Beyond.

DM to make an appointment or learn more.

30/10/2023

I’m so excited to be relaunching my new and improved Thrive Naturopathy website this week so that it can be an even better experience for you. 😊

26/10/2023

If you have a regular menstrual cycle, you've most likely felt some impact of fluctuating hormones through-out the month – PMS, increased moodiness, maybe fatigue. They’re usually the symptoms that come to mind right? (Which you do not have to suffer by the way).

BUT...What you may not be in tune with is the POSITIVE influence your changing hormones can have at different times of the month – particularly when it comes to your work productivity, creativity and motivation to get SH*T done.

The key to harnessing this “productivity hack” is getting in sync with your cycle & knowing how to maximise & work with (not against) the natural rise and fall of your hormones. Knowing how to align your diet, nutrition and lifestyle with each phase is also key.

The 4 stages to the Menstrual Cycle.
Stage 1: Menstruation
Stage 2: The Follicular Phase
Stage 3: Ovulation
Stage 4: The Luteal Phase

Today I want to introduce you to the BOSS LADY phase (where I am currently NOT!).

STAGE 2: THE FOLLICULAR PHASE
The first week overlaps with the first week of your menstrual bleed where many women may feel tired, quiet, preferring to lay low, which may in part be due to the loss of nutrients like iron during your period.

But...in the week or so following your period , Progesterone and Estrogen levels rapidly rise &,
thanks to this BIG boost in estrogen this is often the time of the month where you feel suddenly super driven, ambitious and productive, not just at work but in all areas of your life.

This is likely to be when you – get SH*T done, when you feel more self-assured, determined, up for the challenge with renewed energy, optimism, focus and creativity.
Social butterfly!

TIP
Take advantage of this stage, put in the hard yards, get the bulk of your work done, tackle the more complex tasks that you've been putting off. Up your training. Push yourself.
Eat protein-rich foods for muscle growth and repair & fibre to help your body metabolise & balance estrogen levels.
This might be the week to try intermittent fasting as your appetite tends to decrease as estrogen rises.
Does this sounds like you?

30/09/2023

fast approaching 45 years of age. And whilst it can feel confronting at times for me (and surreal - I still feel and act 25 a lot of the time 🤣) I am a big advocate of Healthy Aging, as opposed to anti-aging.
I want to help other women embrace who they are, work with their changing bodies instead of fighting against them and feel their absolute best. I want to help you optimise your health and well-being for now and especially for your future self! Once you reach midlife, you still have half your life ahead of you! I personally take a very proactive approach to the health of my future self and plan to be a very energetic, very healthy older, wiser woman!

30/09/2023

I chose healthy aging!
I am fast approaching 45 years of age. And whilst it can feel confronting at times for me (and surreal - I still feel and act 25 a lot of the time 🤣) I am a big advocate of Healthy Aging, as opposed to anti-aging.
I want to help other women embrace who they are, work with their changing bodies instead of fighting against them and feel their absolute best. I want to help you optimise your health and well-being for now and especially for your future self! Once you reach midlife, you still have half your life ahead of you! I personally take a very proactive approach to the health of my future self and plan to be a very energetic, very healthy older, wiser woman!

20/09/2023

Have you been told buy your doctor that your blood test results are "normal" or within range and that there is nothing wrong with you, despite knowing that how you feel, and the symptoms you are struggling with are definitely NOT normal?

You know how you feel and you know your body best!

It's not ok to have your symptoms or how you feel dismissed or diminished, no matter what the blood tests say, especially with no other strategies or options explored.

Blood work can be an important part of the picture but many of the symptoms of Perimenopause are not going to be explained by routine blood tests.

DM or make any appointment if you want to better understand the changes and symptoms you are experiencing and find out what other options are available to you.

24/08/2023

24/08/2023

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR WEIGHT GAIN.
Weight gain (or difficult weight loss) is not always just about eating too much or not doing enough exercise.

Ofcourse, an excess of calories vs expenditure and sedantary lifestyle are important factors to consider. However, there are MANY other possible reasons for weight gain.

These include:

-Chronic inflammation
-Thyroid & Hormonal issues
-Nervous system dysfunction / "adrenal fatigue"
-Insulin Resistance / Fatty Liver
-Medications including the Pill and certain antidepressants for ex
-Loss of Muscle
-Mitochondrial dysfuntion
-Genes
-Gut dysbiosis - an imbalance in gut flora

Understanding the cause of your weight gain or difficult fat loss can be a real puzzle for some, with lots of different pieces, some of which you may have never considered.

A holistic approach to weight (fat loss) considers the whole picture of what's going on with your health not just body composition and might be what makes the long-term difference for you.