Vitawell Wellness

05/01/2026

What role does the vagus nerve play in modulating the body’s stress response, and which emerging vagus nerve stimulation therapies can help restore balance?

If you want to know more, enrol in our certified on-line self-paced course! https://www.manuelaboyle.com.au/courses-for-non-practitioners/

03/01/2026

We believe that living well after a cancer diagnosis isn’t just about "getting through"—it’s about thriving. But we also know that finding reliable, compassionate, and truly helpful information can feel like a full-time job.

That is why we created our Free Monthly Newsletter. Think of it as your monthly dose of "unprocessed" wisdom. No fluff, no "ultra-processed" health myths—just clear, evidence-based insights and heartfelt support from our team of dedicated practitioners, delivered straight to your inbox.

Whether you are looking for ways to support your physical vitality, navigate the emotional complexities of your journey, create a healthy recipe, or simply want to feel part of a community that truly "gets it," our newsletter is for you.
We are here for you, every step of the way. 🤝
Join our community of thrivers today. It is completely free to subscribe, and you can opt-out at any time.

📩 Sign up here to join us: info@vitawell.com.au

02/01/2026

Most people think Vitamin D is “just a vitamin," and, indeed, it is a vitamin… but this chart shows it behaves more like a hormone (a feature of several vitamins) that controls hundreds of processes in your body.

Sunlight hits your skin → your liver rewires the molecule → your kidneys activate it → and then this tiny hormone starts regulating everything from immunity to calcium to gene expression.

This diagram shows what textbooks never make simple:

Vitamin D is controlling your:

☀️ Immune response
☀️ Bone building
☀️ Muscle function
☀️ Hormone signaling
☀️ Cell growth & cell death
☀️ Inflammation
☀️ Cancer-protective pathways
☀️ Calcium & phosphorus absorption
☀️ Even gene transcription inside the nucleus

Every cell with a Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is listening.
That includes your brain, thyroid, pancreas, immune cells, prostate, breast tissue, colon, bones, and more.

Look at what’s happening in the diagram:

🔸 UVB light converts 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin into previtamin D₃
(this step only activates with the right wavelength of sunlight)

🔸 The liver turns it into 25(OH)D3 (the lab marker everyone measures)
This is the “circulating form” (the one your doctor tests).

🔸 The kidney turns THAT into the active hormone, 1,25(OH₂)D3
This is the molecule that actually controls your genes.

🔸 Immune cells can ALSO activate Vitamin D on their own
Meaning your vitamin D status directly affects how strongly or weakly your immune system reacts.

🔸 Bones, thyroid, parathyroid, and gut are all communicating using this one signaling molecule
A full endocrine network most people never knew existed.

Vitamin D isn't just about “strong bones.”
It’s a biochemical communication system that your entire physiology depends on.

And deficiency doesn’t just cause low energy, it disrupts every node in this network.

Sunlight, diet, supplements, metabolism, inflammation, liver health, kidney function…
They all determine whether this system works or collapses.

source:
Holick, M. F. (2014). Cancer, sunlight and vitamin D. Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology, 1(4), 179–186

02/01/2026

Rosacea: Why your gut might be holding the key to clearer skin 🌿✨
If you struggle with the persistent flushing and inflammation of rosacea, the answer may not lie on your bathroom shelf, but rather in your digestive system.

A fascinating new review published in Biomolecules has explored the "Gut-Skin Axis"—a complex, bidirectional communication highway where the health of your microbiome directly influences the health of your face.

Researchers found that rosacea isn't just a skin condition; it’s a multifactorial inflammatory process. For a subset of patients, gastrointestinal issues like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and H. pylori infections act as internal triggers. When the gut is in a state of "dysbiosis" (out of balance), it releases inflammatory mediators that travel through the system, eventually causing the neurovascular changes and redness we see in the mirror.

The "Red Flag" Triggers The science shows that certain foods act as "vasodilators," literally opening up the blood vessels in your skin. These include:

Heat & Spice: Not just temperature, but compounds like capsaicin that trigger hypersensitive receptors.

Alcohol: Known to modulate the immune system and trigger histamine release.

The Cinnamaldehyde Factor: A surprising trigger found in cinnamon, tomatoes, and citrus fruits that can provoke stinging and flushing.

A Holistic Roadmap to Relief The good news? Managing your internal environment can lead to external results. Experts recommend:

The 6-Week Challenge: Many dermatologists now suggest a six-week elimination trial of common triggers, paired with a food diary to identify your unique patterns.

Fibre & Fermentation: High-fibre diets support the microbial diversity needed to dampen systemic inflammation.

The Probiotic Frontier: While still preliminary, specific strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are showing incredible potential in reinforcing the skin barrier and calming "Substance P"—a neuropeptide linked to skin inflammation.

Have you noticed your skin flaring after certain meals? Or have you found relief by focusing on your gut health?

30/12/2025

24/12/2025

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with peace, rest and happiness. May you stay well and be well, embracing hope and joy as you move into the New Year. Take good care of yourself—you deserve every bit of peace and happiness.

22/12/2025

I got over 50 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉

14/12/2025

🚨 It's not just about the scale: That "beer belly" is more dangerous to your heart than general weight gain! 🚨

New research shows that visceral fat (the fat around your organs, often measured by waist-to-hip ratio) hurts the heart differently than high BMI does.

While high BMI makes the heart "larger," visceral fat is linked to concentric remodeling, a dangerous stiffening/thickening of the heart walls.

The takeaway: Don't just rely on BMI. Measure your waist-to-hip ratio—it's a critical metric for assessing your true cardiovascular risk, especially in men.

14/12/2025

Soybean Oil (SO) is everywhere—your pantry, and almost every processed food.

Recent research found that high amounts of SO (rich in linoleic acid, an Omega-6 PUFA) were associated with weight gain and insulin resistance. Soybean oil trigger a 'master regulator' protein in the liver (HNF4-alpha) that regulates the expression of numerous genes that play a role in fat metabolism. https://www.jlr.org/article/S0022-2275(25)00195-6/fulltext

The takeaway? Switch to extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is primarily an omega-9 fatty acid, specifically oleic acid, which is highly regarded for its heart health benefits. As a staple of the Mediterranean diet, its consumption is strongly associated with cardiovascular wellness and reduced risk of chronic disease.

30/11/2025

Recent research has shown that elevated exposure to toxic environmental substances and increased oral toxicity may lead to a disrupted oral microbiome, increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and tissue damage in the mouth and may also contribute to an increased risk of oral and systemic diseases.

Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome may lead to local inflammation, dysregulation of the immune system, translocation of pathogenic bacteria into the bloodstream, and initiation of systemic inflammation.The associated inflammation may promote the development of periodontal disease that has been further associated with other inflammatory conditions as well as neuroinflammation.

Periodontal disease and periodontitis are reported risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and have established connections to other chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 observational studies (n=72,467) found that participants with reported cadmium and lead exposures had significantly higher odds of a periodontitis diagnosis compared to controls.

Further, results from a national oral health survey conducted in China found that patients with periodontitis had been exposed to higher concentrations of trace heavy metals (i.e., iron, manganese, and copper) in drinking water from the tap compared to healthy participants.

Read more here:

Periodontitis, a prevalent inflammatory oral disease, is intricately linked to disruptions in the oral microbiome, a state known as microbial dysbiosis. This...

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.../