Vitawell Wellness

08/11/2025

Did you know if you eat your foods in the right order, you can significantly reduce your blood sugar spike by as much as 75%?

Eating vegetables first, then protein and fat, and starches or sugars last slows glucose absorption, leading to steadier energy and fewer cravings.

23/10/2025

This is a reminder that our online course starts on the 1st of November! This is a self-paced course consisting of 4 modules titled "A Patient’s Guide to Evidence, Supplements, and Survivorship" So incredibly excited!!! Enrolments accepted until the end of this month. Curious? Take a look here:
https://www.manuelaboyle.com.au/courses-for-non.../

21/10/2025

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes play an important role in the biotransformation of drugs and endogenous substances.

Clinical medications and herbal remedies can either enhance or inhibit the activity of CYP enzymes, leading to potential drug interactions between herbal supplements and prescribed medications. Such interactions can lead to serious consequences, especially for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as digoxin, warfarin, and cyclosporine A.

The available evidence indicates that high doses of saffron and its active constituents affect the expression or activity of some CYP isoforms, including the CYP1A1/2, CYP3A4, and CYP2E1 subfamily. Considering the important role of these CYPs in the biotransformation of frequently prescribed medications and the activation of procarcinogen into carcinogenic metabolites, it can be expected that the consumption of saffron and its active constituents may influence the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of several substances.

In particular, given the critical role of CYP3A4 in drug metabolism, and saffron's inhibitory impact on this CYP enzyme, it appears that saffron's most significant interaction is linked to its inhibition of CYP3A4. In addition, the inhibitory effect of saffron on CYP1A1/2, and CYP2E1 expression can play a role in the chemopreventive effect of this herbal medicine.

In summary, be aware of potentialinteractiobs between saffron and prescription medications.


Read more here: Bathaei P, Imenshahidi M, Vahdati-Mashhadian N, Hosseinzadeh H. Effects of Crocus sativus and its active constituents on cytochrome P450: a review. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025 Sep;398(9):11407-11420. doi: 10.1007/s00210-024-03525-6. Epub 2025 Apr 1. PMID: 40167627.

19/10/2025

In a comprehensive analysis involving 700,000 patients with psoriasis across four countries, researchers found an increased risk for cancer overall and for multiple types of cancer.

Researchers conducted population-based cohort studies in four countries — Denmark, England, Israel, and Taiwan.

Psoriasis was associated with an overall 5% increased risk for cancer overall after adjustment for confounding factors. No association was observed between psoriasis and cancer in Denmark.

Significant associations were found for the following cancers: oral cavity (pHR, 1.29), pharynx (pHR, 1.30), oesophagus (pHR, 1.17), liver (pHR, 1.53), pancreas (pHR, 1.09), kidney (pHR, 1.19), Hodgkin lymphoma (pHR, 1.56), keratinocyte cancer (pHR, 1.37), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (pHR, 1.43), and leukemia (pHR, 1.61).

The researchers concluded that "these findings emphasize the need to reinforce cancer prevention strategies in the care of psoriasis patients so as to reduce the cancer burden.” (risk of cancer).
Cancer Thrivers


Read more here:

An increased risk of cancer in psoriasis has been postulated, but the association remains incompletely understood. This study sought to examine the risk of

17/10/2025

The timing of when you eat might be just as important as what you eat! 🤯

New research looked at how a dysregulated sleep-wake cycle (think night shift work or constant late nights) affects our eating habits and weight.

Researchers restricted access to a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice to either their active (dark) or inactive (light) period. The results were dramatic and mirror what we see in humans struggling with irregular schedules:

Consuming a HFD during an inactive period (eating unhealthy food late at night) resulted in gaining significantly more weight and fat mass, and eating larger, more frequent meals during the day.

Our metabolism is a complex process. You might think that your metabolism slows down drastically at the end of the day and, therefore, your body does not burn off the calories you consume at night. But in fact, even though your metabolism is slower at night when you are stationary than when you are active, your metabolism never stops working, even when you are sleeping. Calories consumed at night won’t change your metabolism or count more than calories consumed during the day.

The big takeaway? Restricting unhealthy food access to the wrong time of day—like when you are supposed to be resting—promotes behavioral changes that significantly increase the risk of obesity.
Read more here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.70030

CCancer Thrivers

15/10/2025

How healthy are breakfast cereals?
Not so much. Many — perhaps, most — of the biggest names in the cereal world have a lot of sugar, minimal protein before adding milk, a bunch of additives, and not much else. Some don’t even have much fiber, a feature that is supposed to make breakfast cereal a healthy choice.

And, you know the 120 to 150 calorie count often listed on the side of the box? Turns out that the actual portions many people consume can easily soar past 300 calories at a time.

And what about eye-catching boasts like “heart healthy,” “high in vitamins,” “all natural,” or “part of a healthy breakfast"? Unfortunately, researchers have found little connection between health claims and overall nutritional content. In fact, for many cereals, the bulk of the nutritional value relies on something that’s not even in the box: milk.

10/10/2025

We all know a poor night's sleep makes us feel older, but groundbreaking new research shows that poor quality rest literally makes our brains age faster! This is vital news for anyone focused on healthy ageing and cognitive longevity.

A large Swedish study recently found that middle-aged and older adults who reported having poor sleep patterns had brains that appeared nearly 1 year older than their actual chronological age. (Specifically, 0.99 years older!)

What's the hidden danger? Inflammation.
The researchers believe this "accelerated brain ageing" is primarily driven by inflammation—the body's core response to stress and damage. Poor sleep appears to fuel inflammation, and this process is thought to be physically damaging and ageing our brain structure over time.

As Dr. Abigail Dove from Karolinska Institutet noted, this link is a powerful discovery because: “Since sleep is modifiable, it may be possible to prevent accelerated brain aging and perhaps even cognitive decline through healthier sleep.”

The key message is clear: Prioritising healthy sleep isn't just about feeling rested; it's a non-negotiable strategy for protecting your brain for the decades to come.
Read more here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00385-8/fulltext
Cancer Thrivers

Poor sleep health may accelerate brain ageing. This may be driven by higher levels of systemic inflammation.

06/10/2025

A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that plant-heavy diets may lower cancer risk, with vegetarians showing a 12% reduced risk for any cancer. The findings support existing evidence linking plant-based diets to cancer prevention.
Read mote here: https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(25)00328-4/fulltext?__cf_chl_rt_tk=cZE03waYqi7gKIpVZvB60DPbKWubO5zQFT8bgp9MF3Y-1759742798-1.0.1.1-6GalzqtECFeUILNimsVT9fp6wJXhbKPDdXcpXVHGcis

Associations between vegetarian diets and risk of common cancers are somewhat understood, but such data on medium-frequency cancers are scarce and often imprecise.

05/10/2025

🤯 Stress Reset is Here! 🤯
HUGE NEWS, Brisbane! We're thrilled to announce that our clinic now offers the Vagus Nerve Reset—a simple, non-invasive practice that can be a game-changer for your health.

Why Reset Your Vagus Nerve?
This isn't a trend; it's essential biology! The Vagus Nerve is the main highway between your gut and brain, and it's responsible for regulating how your body handles stress.

By stimulating it correctly, you can:

✅ Switch your body out of "fight-or-flight."
✅ Significantly reduce stress and anxiety.
✅ Activate the deep "rest-and-digest" state.
✅ Greatly improve sleep.
✅ Reduce inflammation and boost your immune system.

Our Expertise is Key 🔑
The Vagus Nerve Reset needs to be done correctly to work! We're proud to have a practitioner with extensive training and years of experience helping people achieve a successful reset.

Vagus Nerve & Cancer Support
We often get asked: Can this be used during cancer treatment?
Yes! It can be safely used before, during, and after treatment to help with:

Reducing side effects like fatigue and peripheral neuropathy.

Boosting appetite and increasing recovery.

Inducing calm and regulating your stress response.

Try it, Love it, Take it Home! 🏠
Experience the full 15-minute reset with us. We've also sourced the best portable device on the market for those who want to continue their 10-minute daily reset at home!

Live further afield? We can still help! Contact us to find out how.

Ready to feel calmer, more centered, and in control?

📧 Email us to book your session or learn more:
reception@vitawell.com.au

04/10/2025

Physical frailty is strongly associated with an increased dementia risk in older adults, and according to researchers, the link may be causal (one causes the other).

In an analysis of nearly half a million people in the UK, researchers found that frail adults had almost a three-fold increased risk of developing dementia compared to their nonfrail peers, while those with already showing physical fragility had a 50% increased dementia risk.

The study shows that a combination of genetic factors, immunometabolic functions, and alterations in brain structure is the link between frailty and dementia.

The findings were published online September 17 in the prestigious peer-reviewed paper Neurology.
Read more here: https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214199?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

Background and ObjectivesPhysical frailty is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia, but it remains unclear whether this relationship is causal and whether the biological biomarkers and neurologic underlying mechanisms are involved. We aimed ...

03/10/2025

Facing a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment is a battle, and one of the biggest casualties is often regular sleep. Rest is not a luxury during this time—it is a critical component of your recovery and rehabilitation.

At Vitawell Wellness, we understand the complexity of Sleep Health during this journey. Here are the major roadblocks that disrupt rest and why overcoming them is essential for your wellbeing:

The Roadblocks to Rest:
Mental Wellbeing: The stress, anxiety, and depression that often follow a diagnosis can make it incredibly hard for the mind to switch off at night.

Physical Disruption: Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy—including pain, nausea, night sweats, or hot flashes—can actively prevent you from falling or staying asleep.

Medication Interference: Many necessary medications, such as corticosteroids or antidepressants, can cause sleeplessness. It is vital to inform your medical team about all drugs you take to address potential sleep problems effectively.

Why Quality Sleep Matters for Recovery:
Poor sleep is linked to higher pain levels and longer hospital stays. More importantly, getting quality rest profoundly influences your body's ability to heal:

Immune System Support: Sleep regulates your immune function and metabolism, factors that impact how well your body responds to treatment.

Healing Power: Research in chronotherapy even explores timing treatments like chemotherapy with the body's natural circadian rhythm to make them more effective and reduce damage to healthy tissue.

Prioritising Sleep is a powerful way to support your physical and mental wellbeing and boost your overall vitality during treatment.
Cancer Thrivers Manuela Boyle

02/10/2025

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time to focus on the impact of breast cancer and the importance of early detection in saving lives.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of surviving it.

Thanks to advances in detection and treatment, the five-year breast cancer survival rate has improved to 94 per cent. Between 1987-1991 and 2017-2021, 5-year relative survival increased from 75.1 per cent to 94.3 per cent for women who were diagnosed with breast cancer when aged 50-74.

Age remains the biggest risk factor, with most breast cancers occurring in women over 50. Nine out of 10 women diagnosed have no family history of the disease.

So, don't guess it. Test it! There are plenty of validated functional tests to help you take away the uncertainty.
Cancer Thrivers