Melisa Byrne Naturopath

Melisa Byrne Naturopath I help women in midlife reset their metabolism so they release weight and have more energy to live an incredible life

Who doesn’t enjoy a Granola & Berry & yoghurt breakfast ?This was my delectable breakfast at Noonies Café in Semaphore, ...
25/01/2026

Who doesn’t enjoy a Granola & Berry & yoghurt breakfast ?

This was my delectable breakfast at Noonies Café in Semaphore, I chose recently on an early morning walk from Largs to Semaphore.

It’s a reminder that when you are following a program such as Metabolic Balance, you can enjoy treat meals (with some guidelines) once a week.

Although this breakfast is very similar to what I eat normally (only I don’t eat Granola).

Any program is only sustainable when you can integrate it into your lifestyle – however being mindful of what you chose off the menu.

I’m interested to know of any other places, that serve a good healthy breakfast ? Let me know in the comments.

24/01/2026

I was recently asked to give a keynote presentation on metabolic health in midlife, and I wanted to share this with you.

One of the hormones I focus on most is insulin. When insulin is high in the blood (from blood glucose spikes throughout the day), we're not using stored fats as fuel.

This is why weight gain happens.

Stress, poor sleep, frequent snacking, eating late at night... all of this impacts blood glucose and insulin levels.

This is one of the foundations we address in the Metabolic Balance program. If you'd like to know more, send me a message.

This is one of the most common concerns women bring to consultations, and yet it's often the hardest to talk about - lib...
20/01/2026

This is one of the most common concerns women bring to consultations, and yet it's often the hardest to talk about - libido, desire and intimacy.

Changes during menopause are common, complex, and addressable. It's not just about hormones (though they do play a role).

Declining hormone oestrogen levels means a thinning of tissue which causes dryness and pain with in*******se, known as Genito-urinary symptom (GSM) of menopause.

Also, when you're exhausted, when sleep is broken, when you're uncomfortable in your body, when stress has you running on empty, these all affect how you feel and your capacity for connection.

Physical discomfort can make you feel disconnected from your body. Stress keeps your nervous system on high alert. Mood changes affect how you feel overall.

How I can help. 👇

We start by addressing the physical symptoms (vaginal dryness & discomfort, fatigue, sleep issues), then look at supporting hormones naturally where appropriate, managing stress and supporting your overall wellbeing, and improving sleep quality.

Sometimes I'll recommend additional support through counselling alongside naturopathic care.

This is a multifaceted concern, and it deserves a multifaceted approach.

You're not broken. This is a normal part of navigating hormonal changes, and there are ways to reconnect with this part of yourself.

If this resonates, please reach out. These conversations matter, and you deserve support.

19/01/2026

When supplements are taken without knowing what is in it or what they do, they can mask or not help with the real drivers of symptoms instead of resolving them.

I see many women going through menopause that are stressed, their gut health is suboptimal affecting nutrient absorption, sleep is broken and there diet is missing crucial nutrients required for energy.

Before buying a popular or well marketed supplement, consider reaching out to me to find out what you really need and also that what you need doesn’t interact with prescribed medications.
Because if you’re unsure of what you should be taking, supplements can become an expensive guessing game rather than a solution.

Please DM me to discuss how I can help you manage the symptoms of menopause with supplements that are safe and effective.

Why you wake up at 3am... and it's not just anxiety. It's often your liver working overtime.Your liver is your metabolic...
17/01/2026

Why you wake up at 3am... and it's not just anxiety. It's often your liver working overtime.

Your liver is your metabolic workhorse. Between 1-3am, it's at peak activity, processing hormones, detoxifying, and regulating blood glucose.

When your blood sugar has been unstable during the day (skipped breakfast, afternoon biscuit habit, grazing between meals), your liver struggles to maintain steady levels overnight.

Your blood sugar drops. Your body perceives this as stress. Cortisol spikes to raise glucose. And you're wide awake at 3am with your mind racing.

This isn't just about sleep. It's a sign your metabolism needs support.

The same pattern that wakes you at night is the same one making it hard to shift weight, causing afternoon energy crashes, and driving those sugar cravings.

What actually helps is stabilising blood sugar through meal timing and composition... having protein at breakfast, eating balanced meals, and avoiding grazing between meals.

Supporting liver function with specific herbs and nutrients also plays an important role.

Your 3am wake-ups are your body trying to tell you something and I'd love to help you understand what it's saying.

Please send me a message if this sounds like you.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 clerk for a legal firm in what was then Adelaide House in Currie St, which...
14/01/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 clerk for a legal firm in what was then Adelaide House in Currie St, which is now Peppers Hotel ⚖️⁣
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𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒃, 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 17. ⁣
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I felt very grown up indeed 😜 - my weekly income was $ 120.00, and out of that came payment for board and the bus (a pass was $ 10.00 back in 1986). ⁣
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I was about 19 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝 in this photo taken on the roof top by the lovely building maintenance man, Arthur (slight rule breaker then 😲), and about 2 years in of living & working in Adelaide, I'd met and became friends with many 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐬 who daily walked to the courts daily to lodge documents (a role which dissolved with the advent of the fax and internet). ⁣
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We all start out somewhere, and I learn't many important life skills that I'm sure has served me almost 40 years later including the importance of listening & communicating (the senior partner was tough on this).⁣
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This job role was way before I decided to study naturopathy, in fact, it wouldn't have even crossed my mind then to pursue a career in natural health back then🥗⁣
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But, life isn't a straight line, and 4 years after working in this role, I left Australia to go back packing overseas 🥾🎒⁣
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As it turns out, since that time working for solicitors, I've been very fortunate to reconnect with some of those girls who worked as rounds
clerks and other departments, including ⁣
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A reminder of how small Adelaide is 😁⁣
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 was 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 ? ⁣

Think about it for a moment.Would you...☑️ Finally start that project you've been putting off?☑️ Have patience and prese...
14/01/2026

Think about it for a moment.

Would you...
☑️ Finally start that project you've been putting off?
☑️ Have patience and presence with the people you love?
☑️ Move your body in ways that feel good?
☑️ Feel excited about your day instead of just pushing through it?
☑️ Stop relying on caffeine to get you through?

Energy isn't just about not feeling tired. It's about having the capacity to live fully.

And here's what I want you to know - that energy isn't gone forever.
The fatigue you're experiencing in midlife isn't inevitable.

It's often a sign that your body needs support in specific areas:
➡️ Hormone balance
➡️ Blood sugar stability
➡️ Nutrient optimisation
➡️ Sleep quality
➡️ Stress management

When we address these root causes through personalized nutrition, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support, energy can be restored.

I've seen it happen countless times in my clinic. Women who haven't felt like themselves in years, suddenly rediscovering what it feels like to have sustained energy throughout the day.

So, what would you do with that energy back?

Share in the comments.

And if you're ready to reclaim it, send me a message. I'd love to help you feel like yourself again.

Joint pain is a very common symptom experienced by women in menopause 🧎‍♀️🦵🦵You may already know but....ovarian estrogen...
13/01/2026

Joint pain is a very common symptom experienced by women in menopause 🧎‍♀️🦵🦵

You may already know but....ovarian estrogen (E2) helps maintain cartilage and also is anti-inflammatory, so the decline of this potent oestrogen during menopause may contribute to joint pain.

Therefore, it's important to ensure the joints are nourished with adequate protein, antioxidants, healthy oils and hydration (think Mediterranean style of eating🥗).

If you do suffer with joint pain, you may consider practicing yoga as it may;

🩷 Nourish cartilage via movement of synovial fluid

🩷 Reduce inflammation by lowering systemic cortisol

🩷 It strengthens muscles around the joints reducing the load on cartilage.

The health of your joints aren't solely dependent on oestradiol and progesterone. Diet and Lifestyle practices may influence joint pain, mobility and flexibility.

And if you'd like support for managing joint pain, consider reaching out as this is one of the many ways I support women in menopause. 🦋

📷 Taken by John Byrne at Pt. Turton in October with our pup Indah. 🐶

12/01/2026

Peace doesn't require grand gestures.

It's found in noticing the flowers, feeling the sun, taking a breath.
These small moments add up.

How do you create peace in your day?

07/01/2026

Have you been told your blood tests are 'normal' but you still feel awful?

This is one of the most common frustrations I hear from new clients.

They're exhausted, gaining weight, experiencing brain fog and mood changes.
They go to their doctor, have blood tests done, and are told everything's fine.

But they don't feel fine.

Here's the gap:
Standard medical testing looks for pathology. The 'normal' reference ranges are designed to identify disease, not optimal function.

For example:
Your iron might be 30 (within normal range of 10-300) but you're exhausted because it's too low for optimal energy production
Your thyroid TSH might be 3.5 (normal is often 0.5-5.0) but you're struggling with weight and fatigue because it's not optimal
Your vitamin D might be 50 (above deficiency threshold) but insufficient for immune function and mood

As a naturopath specialising in menopause, I analyse blood work through a different lens. I'm looking at:
✓ Where you sit within the reference ranges
✓ Patterns between different markers
✓ Suboptimal levels that could be causing symptoms
✓ Nutritional deficiencies affecting metabolism
✓ Inflammatory markers
✓ How your results relate to your symptoms

My goal isn't just to rule out disease. It's to optimise your function so you feel vital, energised, and like yourself again.

This comprehensive approach, combined with personalised nutrition and herbal medicine, is what creates real transformation.

If your doctor says you're 'fine' but you know you're not, I'd love to take a deeper look.

Send me a message and let's explore what your blood work is really telling us about your health.

This isn't just a personality quirk.Your chronotype (natural sleep-wake preference) has real implications for your healt...
06/01/2026

This isn't just a personality quirk.

Your chronotype (natural sleep-wake preference) has real implications for your health, especially in midlife.

Here's what many women don't realise:
When you're fighting against your natural rhythm by eating at the wrong times, exercising when your body isn't ready, or trying to force sleep when your cortisol is still elevated, you're working AGAINST your metabolism and hormones.

This can contribute to:
Persistent fatigue
Weight gain (particularly around the middle)
Poor sleep quality
Increased stress and anxiety
Blood sugar imbalances

In my practice, I assess circadian rhythm as part of understanding each client's unique metabolic profile.

Because the TIMING of when you eat, move, and rest can be just as important as what you eat and how you move.

For example:
Morning people often do better with a substantial breakfast and earlier dinner
Night owls might need a lighter breakfast and benefit from a slightly later eating window
Both need strategic light exposure to support their natural rhythm

This is why personalised approaches like the Metabolic Balance programme work so well.

We're not just looking at WHAT you eat, but WHEN you eat it, based on YOUR body's needs.

If you're constantly tired, struggling with sleep, or finding that 'healthy eating' isn't giving you results, your circadian rhythm might be part of the puzzle.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? And is your schedule supporting that, or fighting it?

You don't need to overhaul everything at once.You don't need to be perfect.You just need to start.Small, consistent chan...
05/01/2026

You don't need to overhaul everything at once.
You don't need to be perfect.
You just need to start.

Small, consistent changes like:
☑️ Getting morning sunlight to support your circadian rhythm
☑️ Eating protein at breakfast to balance blood sugar
☑️ Walking for 15 minutes after meals
☑️ Drinking water between meals instead of coffee with milk
☑️ Going to bed 30 minutes earlier

These aren't dramatic. They're not Instagram-worthy transformations.

But over time? They compound.

Better energy leads to better choices. Better sleep leads to better mood. Better blood sugar balance leads to fewer cravings.

One small change, repeated consistently, creates the foundation for lasting transformation.

So as we step into 2026, what's one small change you're ready to make?
Not ten things. Just one.

Share it below and let's support each other in making this year different.

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Cnr The Grove & Golden Way
Golden Grove, SA
5125

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My mission is....

To help as many people as I can to restore their health and wellness.

In an initial consultation (1 hour) I collect information about your current health complaint/s, medical history, review of systems and clinical examinations. You may be referred for blood pathology testing to assist in treatment assessment. Although symptoms are addressed you will be educated on relevant dietary, lifestyle changes required to manage the underlying causes. Herbal medicines and nutritional supplementation may be prescribed as part of your treatment.

The number of follow up appointments required will depend on how you have had the symptoms/disease for and the response to treatment. Follow up consultations are 30 minutes.

I have a special interest in digestive health, weight management, hormone imbalances, anxiety, adrenal fatigue and autoimmune conditions. I am a certified Metabolic Metabolic Balance® Practitioner, which is a scientific weight management program which offers an individualised plan based on your unique chemistry. I love it as it is based on whole foods and works.