Live Well with Leonie

26/02/2026

Needed a bit of this today. What have you been diffusing?

23/02/2026

Wow, fascinating eh!

Menopause isn’t just a hormonal shift — it’s an immune shift inside your bones.

Bone is not inert scaffolding.

It is living, immunologically active tissue.

The bone marrow functions as a central immune organ — an immuno-bone axis.

Inside bone, remodeling is constant — a balance between:

• osteoclasts (cells that break bone down)
• osteoblasts (cells that rebuild it)

Estrogen helps regulate that balance.

Within the marrow environment, it restrains inflammatory signaling and maintains equilibrium in the RANKL/OPG pathway — the key regulator of osteoclast activation.

When estrogen declines:

• Marrow immune activity increases
• The RANKL/OPG ratio shifts toward activation
• Osteoclast lifespan extends
• Bone resorption accelerates
• Trabecular structure weakens

This is why bone loss often accelerates after menopause.

It reflects altered immune signaling inside skeletal tissue.

Old view:
Menopause → Estrogen drops → Bones weaken.

Biological view:
Menopause → Immune shift in marrow → Increased RANKL signaling → Accelerated osteoclast activity → Bone loss.

Estrogen functions as an immune modulator within bone.

And here is the empowering part:

While estrogen decline is biological, the signaling environment remains modifiable.

Osteoblasts contain mechanoreceptors.

Resistance training sends a direct biochemical signal that stimulates bone formation.

Bone is nearly 50% protein by volume.
Without adequate protein intake, the collagen matrix cannot be rebuilt.

Visceral fat acts as an endocrine organ, producing inflammatory cytokines that amplify marrow signaling. Reducing it lowers systemic inflammatory load.

Vitamin D supports calcium absorption.

Vitamin K2 activates osteocalcin, helping incorporate calcium into the bone matrix.

Magnesium supports vitamin D metabolism and osteoblast activity.

Bone density reflects hormonal tone, immune balance, mechanical load, protein sufficiency, and metabolic stability.

Estrogen decline shifts the environment.

But the environment is still responsive.

Bone is living tissue.

And living tissue responds to signaling.

23/02/2026

Ozstralia truly is the gourmet capital of the world doncha reckon?

While other nations might boast about their Michelin stars or PDO cheeses, Australia’s modern culinary heart beats to a slightly different rhythm. These are the 31 surprising foods that are true blue Aussie creations: https://bit.ly/45upT2E

23/02/2026

I remember my Mum’s scrambled eggs were so often either watery or hard bits. I hated scrambled eggs. I don’t think she ever made scrambled eggs the way they should be made but, back in those days, there weren’t any cooking mags or cheffy videos to show folks the best way to make perfect scrambles.

It took me decades to try them again and realise what I’d been missing. Soft pillowy scrambled eggs are a true culinary delight; however, I’m sure many of us have struggled to find that perfection ourselves.

Struggle no more, here’s some great tips!

How to make perfect scrambled eggs, according to an expert. 🍳
https://www.taste.com.au/quick-easy/articles/how-to-make-perfect-scrambled-eggs/3fmwggap

18/02/2026

Ants! 🐜🐜🐜

I’ve had a trail of ants for the past week. While I can see where they’re coming from and going to… across the top of my kitchen cupboards and a couple of door frames, I can’t actually see exactly where they’re coming from or going to.

It’s a mystery! The trail goes from a bookcase that does have some plants on it but only 1 is in a “pot” and that is a glass bowl so I can see inside and no ants. The rest of the plants are growing in glass water bottles so no ants there. I just can’t figure out why they’re there!

The other end is a kitchen cupboard that has crockery, mugs and some baking accessories in it. No food. And, while they seem to disappear into the cupboard, there’s no sign of them actually in the cupboard. As I said, it’s a complete mystery.

I know ants are the harbinger of rain - they seek higher ground when it rains - and we have had a good dump over the weekend, but this lot aren’t carrying eggs or anything. They’re just having a nice wander along the cupboard and door tops.

I’ve been spraying them madly with a Peppermint oil spray cos ants don’t like Peppermint. It’s kindof working but the lil buggers are still there after days of spraying them with the Peppermint oil. Last night I made up a stronger spray, hoping it would work. Came home from work and no sign… yay.

After dinner and they’re back! But they’re cunning. They were avoiding the areas I sprayed and moved “inland” on the roof.

So I’ve sprayed again and just have to hope they decide to give up soon!

I’ve repurposed a Peppermint oil bottle with a spray top and just add about 30 drops of Peppermint oil and top it up with filtered water. Yes it’s a small spray but I don’t usually have to use it that often so I don’t make up a bigger bottle.

Now… will I still have them tomorrow night I wonder?

18/02/2026

Now this is what I like to see!

Not that I like cockroaches of course but it’s Australia and, in tropical areas, they can be a particular nuisance.

Thankfully I don’t get many.

I’ve mentioned before that On Guard is great for killing cockroaches. I just use my On Guard Cleaner Concentrate cleaning spray and douse them. However, I have been wanting more of a preventative rather than the “cure” as it were.

Decided to try diffusing On Guard in my kitchen so plugged a bottle of On Guard oil into the Lumist diffuser I bought at Christmas time. It works in the same way as our Bubble diffusers.

It’s motion-activated so doesn’t go off all the time, just when I walk past or it detects any movement. Since activating it, I’ve not seen any cockroaches or evidence of them… until today.

Came home to find this small cockroach almost dead on the floor. Yay! It’s working!

18/02/2026

Ever thought about what you’re using for your bum?

It’s not something many of us do think about so, when this popped up in a Low Tox Community post, I watched with interest.

I’m so glad I use one of the better ones (Who Gives a Crap bamboo toilet paper).

Suggest you watch it if yu’re at all concerned about keeping your skin free from toxic chemicals. Eye-opening!

Note: I have NO idea why Anthony Albanese appears on the image. Very odd.

10 TOXIC Toilet Paper Brands Australians Should NEVER Buy (And 5 That Are Actually Worth It)📌 AUSSIE HOMEMADE GUIDE (MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD AT HOME): https://bi...

16/02/2026

I love these tips!

16/02/2026

SALE TIME!!!!

For just 2 days, you can take advantage of a special sale with some fab goodies from The Mix Shop.

It's a great opportunity to grab something you've had your eye on and use some of your MyMix Rewards. If you haven't yet signed up for MyMix Rewards, now's the time!

Sign up here: https://thermomix.com.au/pages/mymix-rewards

And shop the sale! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BpsBxr9Vk/

15/02/2026

On sale tomorrow in your friendly local supermarket or news agency!

This one is a cracker chock full of lovely recipes!

13/02/2026

If you’ve been having trouble finding Greek yoghurt in the supermarket, then why not make your own in your Thermie?

It’s so easy and there’s lot of different Thermomix recipes available. Here’s my fave one. Easy to make in little glass pots in your Varoma. If you have a TM6 or TM7, the recipe uses the fermentation mode so it’s literally mix, pour, set and forget while the Thermie does its fabulous fermenting work.

https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/food-recipes/tired-of-empty-shelves-uncover-the-truth-behind-this-four-month-fridge-staple-crisis

A world of Thermomix® recipes - Cookidoo® brings you delicious food all over the world. With thousands of recipes and ideas, you'll find mouth-watering inspiration every time you log in.