Vitawell Wellness

02/05/2026

🌟 May is Brain Cancer, Bladder Cancer, and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month! 🌟
T
his month, let’s come together to raise awareness, support those affected, and share vital information about prevention and early detection. Early diagnosis saves lives, and knowledge empowers us all to take action.

🧠 Brain Cancer: Support research and those bravely facing this diagnosis.

🩺 Bladder Cancer: Know the signs, speak to your GP, and encourage loved ones to get checked.

☀️ Melanoma & Skin Cancer: Protect your skin, book screenings, and practise sun safety every day.

Together, we can make a difference. Share this post to help spread awareness! 💙💛
Vitawell Wellness Cancer Thrivers

02/05/2026

New research from South Korea has shown that getting rid of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can dramatically lower your risk of developinggastric cancer at almost any age, even if you’re over 80.

For years, it was thought that only younger people benefited from H. pylori eradication, but this study followed nearly a million adults for over a decade and found that people treated for H. pylori had much lower rates of gastric cancer and cancer deaths, regardless of age. In fact, even people in their 70s and 80s saw their risk nearly cut in half!

Why does this matter? H. pylori infection is a leading cause of gastric cancer. Most people get the infection in childhood, but it can quietly cause problems that only appear decades later.

The big takeaway: It’s never too late to treat H. pylori if you’re a good candidate for antibiotics. While earlier treatment is best, age alone shouldn’t stop anyone from getting this potentially life-saving therapy. Screening and treating for H. pylori could make a real difference, no matter how old you are.

Read more here: Myeong S, Kang D, Kim JS, Cho YK, Yim HW, Park JM. Long-Term Risk of Gastric Cancer After Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Gastric Ulcer Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea. Helicobacter. 2025 Jul-Aug;30(4):e70057. doi: 10.1111/hel.70057. PMID: 40619579; PMCID: PMC12230206.

Cancer Thrivers

02/05/2026

Something important for anyone who enjoys a drink, especially younger adults: A major new study has found that heavy alcohol consumption is linked with a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer at a younger age.

Researchers looked at over six million people aged 20-39 and found that those who drank heavily (that’s about four drinks a day for men and two for women) were 19% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer before age 50 than non-drinkers.

Even drinking three or more times a week increased the risk by 23%. Lighter or occasional drinking didn’t seem to raise the risk significantly, but these results are a real wake-up call.

Why does this matter? Pancreatic cancer is tough to treat and being diagnosed with it young can be devastating. The study highlights how important it is to raise awareness about alcohol as a modifiable risk factor, not just for older adults, but for younger generations too.

Experts say the safest choice is to avoid heavy drinking, and if you do drink, keep it well below two drinks a day for men and one for women. It’s not just about long-term health; cutting back now can help reduce the risk of cancers that could appear earlier in life.

Take care of your future self—your choices now really do matter.

Read more here: Park, J. H., Hong, J. Y., Han, K., Shen, J. J., Park, J. O., Park, Y. S., & Lim, H. Y. (2026). Threshold Dose-Response Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Young-Onset Pancreatic Cancer: A Nationwide Korean Cohort Study of Young Adults Age 20-39 Years. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 44(9), 762–773. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-01169

Cancer Thrivers

PURPOSEThe incidence of young-onset pancreatic cancer has increased rapidly; however, the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of incident young-onset pancreatic cancer remains unclear.METHODSA nationwide cohort of 6,263,770 ...

09/04/2026

Agreed?

29/03/2026

There is always a lot more to the story in health and disease

18/03/2026

By popular demand, please see here the common household cooking techniques using fats and oils

Various cooking techniques use different temperatures as well as amounts of oil to achieve the desired texture and flavor. The fat or oil used needs to be able to withstand the cooking temperature without reaching its smoke point.

The smoke point is the temperature where the fat or oil begins to break down and smoke. Exceeding a smoke point can cause an oil to lose nutrients, alter its flavor, or even produce toxic byproducts.

Here are some examples of temperatures used with different cooking methods.
Oven roasting or baking:
• Food is cooked by the surrounding heated air in the oven.
• Low to high heat (148-204°C)
Sautéing:
• Food is cooked quickly with a small amount of fat or oil.
• Medium to high heat (176-204°C)
Pan frying:
• Like sautéing, but foods are cooked for a longer length of time using more fat or oil.
• Medium to high heat (162-204°C)
Deep fat frying:
• Foods are cooked quickly by fully immersing them in pre-heated fats or oils
• High heat (176-190°C)

Oil Temperatures and Smoke Points
To help determine which oils are best for each cooking method, we have divided the oils based on smoke point temperatures. These are just guidelines.

Fats and oils intended for cooking should have their smoke point,
maximum cooking heat level, or intended use listed on the bottle. Use those details to determine how and when the fat or oil should be used.
• No heat oils: Used for salad dressings, garnishes, drizzling, dips, etc.
• Low-heat oils: Those with smoke points of 148-160°C. Used
for gentle sautéing or low-heat baking.
• Medium-heat oils: Those with smoke points of 107-177°C.
Used for sautéing, pan frying, or higher-heat baking.
• High-heat oils: Those with smoke points of 3177-232°C. Used
for deep fat frying or pan searing.
• Very high-heat oils: Those with smoke points of 232°C or more. Used for deep fat frying, pan searing, broiling, or stir-frying.

Make sure that the chosen fat or oil has a smoke point well above the expected maximum heat of the cooking process. It is also important to know that many things can impact the smoke point of a particular oil including:
• Oil quality: The quality of a fat or oil differs by its source, brand,
additives, processing, etc.
• Age of the oil: Smoke points decrease as oils age. Older oils have lower smoke points than when they were first purchased

18/03/2026

The gut communicates with the brain through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways, often referred to as the “second brain.”

This system relies on the vagus nerve, microbial metabolites, and immune messengers to regulate stress response, mood, and cognition.

Recent studies show that up to 95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, where microbes help synthesize and modulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine, GABA, and acetylcholine.

Dysbiosis, inflammation, and/or intestinal permeability can disrupt this signaling, contributing to anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline.

The gut–brain axis has also been linked to disorders like IBS, chronic fatigue, and mood instability, where immune activation and microbial imbalance play key roles.

Interested to know more about your health?

Functional testing allows providers to map these interactions and design targeted interventions for improved emotional and neurological health. Ask us!

Cancer Thrivers

10/03/2026

What is Supportive Care in Cancer?

Supportive care in cancer is the prevention and management of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. This includes management of physical and psychological symptoms and side effects across the continuum of the cancer experience from diagnosis through treatment to post-treatment care.

Supportive care aims to improve the quality of rehabilitation, secondary cancer prevention, survivorship, and end-of-life care.
This is what I do ❤
Cancer Thrivers

Send a message to learn more

24/02/2026

🌿 Is your "Gut-Brain" connection out of sync? 🧠✨
Scientists are increasingly finding that when our gut microbiome is disrupted, it doesn’t just stay in the gut. It can lead to chronic inflammation, "leaky gut," and even impact our brain health—increasing the risk of long-term issues like neurodegenerative diseases.

While many current treatments have side effects, a plant-based powerhouse called Berberine (BRB) is making waves in the research world.

Why Berberine is trending in science:
According to a recent 2025 review (Duda-Madej et al.), Berberine acts as a "multitasker" for your health:

🛡️ Gut Protector: It helps repair the intestinal barrier (fixing "leaky gut") and keeps harmful toxins from escaping into your system.

🔥 Inflammation Fighter: It naturally calms the body’s inflammatory response, acting on the same pathways that cause redness and swelling.

🦠 Microbiome Reset: It helps reshape your gut bacteria to a healthier, more balanced state.

🧠 Brain Support: Because the gut and brain are "wired" together, its protective effects extend to your nervous system.

The Bottom Line: Whether it’s fighting oxidative stress or supporting a healthy gut-brain axis, Berberine is proving to be a potent tool for long-term wellness and better quality of life.

Reference: Duda-Madej et al., 2025.

Cancer Thrivers

21/02/2026

Virgin Olive Oil Improves Gut Microbiome Diversity, Protects Cognitive Health

Consuming virgin olive oil, as opposed to refined olive oil, improves bacterial diversity and helps preserve brain function in older people

Study reveals that extra virgin olive oil may play a decisive role in protecting cognitive function through its effects on the gut microbiota.

This is the first prospective study in humans to specifically analyse the role of olive oil in the interaction between gut microbiota and cognitive function.

The results reveal that people who consumed virgin olive oil rather than refined olive oil showed improved cognitive function and greater diversity in their gut microbiota, which is an important marker of intestinal and metabolic health.

In contrast, consumption of refined olive oil was associated with less diverse microbiota over time. In addition, the researchers identified a genus of bacteria in the microbiota, known as Adlercreutzia, as a possible indicator of the beneficial association between virgin olive oil consumption and the preservation of cognitive function.

The researchers’ findings suggests that some of the benefits for brain function of consuming this type of oil may be due to its impact on the composition of the gut microbiota.

Read more here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-025-02306-4
Vitawell Wellness

Background Over the past decade, emerging evidence has shed light on the role of the gut microbiota in the interface between diet and brain health. Olive oil, particularly virgin olive oil, a key component and major fat source in the Mediterranean diet, has exhibited widespread healthful benefits, i...

20/02/2026

New research reveals that over 20,800 Australians are now living with metastatic breast cancer—a 75% increase.

This shift means that long-term supportive care is more important than ever. Survivorship is a critical time!

As you navigate a longer journey with treatment, your body requires a different level of care:

Managing Side Effects: Supporting the liver and gut through ongoing medication cycles.

Reducing Fatigue: Using evidence-based nutrition to combat "treatment fog" and boost daily energy.

Building Resilience: Strengthening your internal environment to support your primary oncological care.

Don’t just manage a diagnosis—optimise your quality of life.

Read more here: https://www.aihw.gov.au/
Cancer Thrivers

16/02/2026

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are increasingly recognised as central drivers of cardiovascular disease, influencing endothelial function, inflammation, lipid oxidation, and metabolic resilience.

At the core of these processes lies redox balance—particularly the role of glutathione as the body’s master antioxidant and its intimate relationship with mitochondrial health.

But there is a bit of a catch: taking glutathione as a supplement is not always the most effective way to boost your levels.

That is where NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) comes in. Here is why this powerhouse is gaining so much attention for its ability to fight oxidative stress.

Because it is highly stable and incredibly bioavailable, your body absorbs it easily. Once inside, your body uses the NAC to "brew" its own fresh supply of glutathione exactly where it’s needed most—inside your cells.
Cancer Thrivers