Kerri Nichols Naturopathic Clinic

01/02/2026

Walking is already known as one of the simplest ways to support physical health, but scientific evidence shows it becomes even more powerful when done with others. Studies indicate that walking together can noticeably improve mood and reduce stress levels, offering benefits that go beyond movement alone.

Biologically, walking activates systems that regulate stress and emotional balance. Gentle physical activity lowers cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, while increasing endorphins that support calmness and positive mood. When walking with others, these effects are amplified through social connection. The brain responds to companionship by releasing oxytocin, a hormone linked to trust, safety, and emotional comfort.

Psychologically, shared movement creates a sense of belonging. Conversation flows more easily while walking, reducing pressure and encouraging openness. The rhythmic nature of walking also helps regulate breathing and nervous system activity, making it easier for the mind to settle. This combination supports clearer thinking and emotional stability.

Walking with others also reduces feelings of isolation, which are strongly linked to stress and low mood. Feeling seen and supported, even through casual companionship, helps the brain interpret the environment as safer and less demanding. Over time, this lowers baseline stress and improves resilience.

What makes this habit especially valuable is its accessibility. No equipment, gym membership, or special skills are needed. A short daily walk with a friend, partner, or group can quietly strengthen mental wellbeing and emotional health.

This research reinforces a comforting truth. Humans are wired for movement and connection. When the two come together, the benefits multiply naturally.

Sometimes the most effective support for the mind is as simple as moving forward, side by side.

01/02/2026

20/01/2026

Hydration you can feel.
 
100% of panelists said their skin felt hydrated and nourished after using Aspect Restorative 8 Night Cream.

This luxurious formula works while you sleep, delivering deep hydration and essential nutrients for a visibly refreshed complexion by morning.🌙✨

08/01/2026

I’m deep into acne research right now. Looking beyond skincare to things like androgens, insulin, zinc, gut health, mast cells, dairy-free, DIM, berberine, and vitamin B5.

What’s helped your skin? Drop your favourite nutrition or lifestyle tips below. Especially the ones that don’t get talked about enough 👇

03/12/2025

Christmas is only 3 weeks away 🎄 if you are looking for a gift Aspect Skincare is available from my clinic 😊

21/10/2025

Aspect re-stock and beautiful Christmas Sculpt & Glow Kits 🎄 as well as two new products - Restorative 8 Night Cream & Phyto-Defence Super Antioxidant Serum!👌Aspect Skincare

16/10/2025

FYI - Apparently it’s 10 weeks to Christmas 🎄 😁

11/10/2025

Some Saturday afternoon 🎶😊

Official Music Video for “Left It In The River” by Jamie MacDonaldGet this song: https://JamieMacDonald.lnk.to/LeftItInTheRiverVD Subscribe to Jamie MacDonal...

11/10/2025

Aspect Skincare available from my clinic 😊🌸

06/10/2025

I recently posted a study suggesting that non-antibiotic drugs may have an unexpected disruptive effect on gut flora. Now a study from Australia has generated findings suggesting that certain drugs might also contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While antibiotic overuse is a primary driver, emerging evidence suggests that non-antibiotic medications (NAMs) may also play a role. The authors note that this concern is particularly relevant in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), where both NAMs and antibiotics are frequently used.

They investigated nine NAMs commonly used in RACFs, including ibuprofen, diclofenac, paracetamol (acetaminophen), furosemide, metformin, atorvastatin, tramadol, temazepam and pseudoephedrine at gut-relevant concentrations in a test tube model of ciprofloxacin-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli.

Findings showed that ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly increased mutation frequency and conferred high-level ciprofloxacin resistance. Whole-genome sequencing identified mutations in the regulatory genes GyrA, MarR, and AcrR, with the latter two correlated with overexpression of a key drug efflux pump (a bacterial defense mechanism). Co-exposure to two NAMs further elevated mutation rates and ciprofloxacin resistance levels. Mutants showed ≥4 fold increased resistance, not only for ciprofloxacin but also for other antibiotic classes such as β lactams, levofloxacin and minocycline. Notably, ciprofloxacin resistance rose by up to 32 fold.

The authors suggested their findings underscored the overlooked role of NAMs in driving AMR and highlighted the need to reassess polypharmacy risks in aged care settings.

The University of South Australia’s official media release (dated 26 August 2025) emphasised that common painkillers "quietly fuel one of the world’s biggest health threats: antibiotic resistance" by increasing bacterial mutations and resistance.
However, it should be noted that this work needs to be repeated, and the findings were laboratory-generated and may not reflect the real-world situation.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40855113/

25/09/2025

Chronobiology is the scientific field that studies how biological processes are organised in time and regulated by internal clocks. These rhythms influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone secretion, metabolism, immune function and behaviour. Chronobiology also explores how internal clocks interact with environmental cues (like light, food and temperature), and how disruptions (such as shift work, jet lag or disease) affect health.

The evidence is accumulating that artificial light at night does far more than just disrupt sleep. Studies show that the glow from devices, streetlights, and other night-time sources confuses the body’s natural rhythms, which evolved to synchronise with the periods of light and darkness.

A recent ‘Genomic Press Innovators and Ideas’ feature in Brain Medicine profiled the groundbreaking work of neuroscientist Dr. Randy J. Nelson, focusing on his research into the far-reaching effects of disrupted circadian rhythms on both brain performance and overall health. As the current chair of the Department of Neuroscience at West Virginia University, he has devoted the past ten years to uncovering the lesser-known risks posed by exposure to artificial light at night. His studies reveal that night-time light does much more than reduce sleep quality; it can impair immune responses, spark neuroinflammation, interfere with metabolic processes and alter mood regulation. For example, clear links between circadian disruption and metabolic disorders have been found, potentially contributing to the obesity epidemic. Perhaps most concerningly, the research shows direct effects on mood regulation, with implications for understanding depression and anxiety disorders.

“Circadian rhythms are a fundamental aspect of biology, and much is known from foundational science about them,” Dr. Nelson explains. “However, little of this foundational science has been translated to clinical medicine.”

The research also extends to healthcare workers themselves. One clinical trial is investigating whether blue light visors can help night shift nurses reset their circadian rhythms, potentially improving their sleep quality, cognitive performance and mood. Could similar interventions help other shift workers across various industries maintain better health despite irregular schedules?

One of Dr. Nelson’s most provocative proposals involves recognising time-of-day as a crucial biological variable in all research. He argues that experimental results can vary dramatically depending on when studies are conducted, yet this information rarely appears in scientific publications.

“The answer to an experimental question may depend in part on the time-of-day when the question is asked,” Dr. Nelson notes. This observation has profound implications for research reproducibility and could explain why some studies fail to replicate previous findings.

This research carries immediate practical implications for public health. Simple interventions like reducing evening screen time, using warmer light colours after sunset, and maintaining consistent sleep schedules could significantly impact health. His work suggests that respecting our evolutionary heritage by aligning modern life more closely with natural light patterns could prevent numerous chronic health conditions. Nelson recently published a book with Oxford University Press entitled, “Dark Matters,” to help the general public appreciate the importance of good circadian hygiene for health and wellness.

I am growing increasingly interested in the concept that, due to artificial lighting, modern living has led to a deficiency of melatonin exposure. This chemical (and indeed phytochemical) is not just a sleep hormone, but functions as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and immune and cardiometabolic regulator. These pleiotropic benefits make it a compound of interest in healthspan medicine, chronic disease prevention (including cancer and cognitive decline), and mitochondrial therapy. My preference is to supplement with phytomelatonin.

For more information see: https://scitechdaily.com/the-surprising-ways-nighttime-light-wrecks-your-brain-and-body/

18/09/2025

Another good reason to eat our vegetables 🥒 😊🌿

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a metabolite naturally produced from glucobrassicin after the consumption of cabbage family vegetables. It has attracted scientific interest for its potential health benefits, particularly in hormone regulation and cancer prevention. DIM influences oestrogen metabolism by promoting the conversion of oestradiol into less potent metabolites, which may reduce oestrogen dominance-related conditions. But it also has antimicrobial properties.

In a novel finding, scientists have recently discovered that DIM can cut plaque-causing bacteria in the mouth by 90%. The human mouth provides an ideal environment for bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, a key contributor to tooth decay. After eating, S. mutans thrives in the warm, sugary conditions inside the mouth, forming a sticky biofilm on the teeth. This biofilm leads to plaque buildup, erodes enamel and causes cavities.

The study found that DIM was able to attenuate S. mutans biofilm formation by 92%. Also, treatment with DIM lowered extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and decreased its durability significantly under acidic conditions. EPS is the protective, gel-like matrix secreted by bacteria that surrounds the cells in a biofilm. These anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of DIM against S. mutans bacteria in an "oral setting" provide clear evidence for its usefulness in reducing biofilm formation, and potentially for caries prevention.

“The molecule, which was found to have low toxicity, could be added to toothpastes and mouthwashes to greatly improve dental hygiene,” says lead author Prof. Ariel Kushmaro.

In the meantime, I guess we can chew on the tablets!

We might also wonder if DIM can exert antibiofilm properties elsewhere in the body, such as in the gut and bladder. In other test tube studies, DIM consistently prevented biofilm initiation and weakened EPS matrix production across Gram-negative, Gram-positive and fungal pathogens at low- to mid-micromolar concentrations. It was less effective against established/mature biofilms, but did show antibiotic synergy.

If you want to generate significant amounts of DIM in your digestive system (from the stomach downwards), bloodstream and ultimately urine, you will need to eat your Brassica vegetables raw and chew them well. Anyone for coleslaw?

Unfortunately, you can’t generate DIM in your mouth by chewing on cabbage; we need our stomach acid for that.

For more information see: https://scitechdaily.com/natural-molecule-wipes-out-90-of-cavity-causing-plaque/
and
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37370336/