Laura Gale - Naturopath

14/10/2021

“Working on your mental health can take many forms; many of which take years to master. But what can you do today, or right now?”
Check out my latest blog post over at to learn about how spending just five minutes can do wonders for your mood and mental well-being. I’ll pop the link in the comments!

01/10/2021

07/09/2021

When the most recent lockdown was announced, I shed a tear - and realised I probably wasn’t the only one feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and sad. Lucky for me, I’ve got skills and knowledge to put some tools and considered supplements in place as my ‘back stop’. Lucky for you, it’s my job to share my knowledge and empower YOU to feel better. Contact me to make your appointment today.

05/08/2021

Check out Naturopath Laura's delicious quick lunch: Chickpea Chopped Salad 🥗.
"With a bit of prep, you can have this made in the time it takes to poach an egg. Coincidentally, the two go quite nicely together! Make this today and enjoy it for lunch for the week. A couple of ideas: on top of some fresh greens as a salad, on top of avocado toast, as a sandwich or wrap filling - one quick dance with your food processor and you’re set for the week!"

INGREDIENTS:
▸ 1 tin chickpeas, rinsed and drained.
▸ 1 carrot, peeled.
▸ 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped into quarters.
▸ 1/2 red capsicum, chopped into quarters.
▸ 2 spring onions.
▸ 2 dill pickles, drained.
▸ 1 tbs Mayo.
▸ 1 tbs mustard (I like Dijon).
▸ 1 tbs harissa (optional).
▸ 2 tbs sunflower seeds.
▸ Handful chopped parsley.
▸ Salt and pepper to taste.

METHOD:
▸ Place the chickpeas into the food processor and pulse a couple of times until they’re roughly chopped, remove into large bowl.
Alternatively place them into a large bowl and mash with the back of a fork.
▸ Place the rest of the vegetables into the food processor and pulse until they’re chopped to your liking. You want the salad to maintain some crunch. Tip into the bowl with the chickpeas.
▸ Add the remaining ingredients and mix.

Enjoy!

04/07/2021

Did you know Curcumin is one of our most powerful herbal tools when it comes to improving mental health and adaptation to stress? Curcumin, via turmeric, is great to include in the diet as a means of using food as medicine.

In this chilly weather, one of Naturopath Laura's favourite things to cook with turmeric is Red Lentil Dahl.

INGREDIENTS:
▸ 2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee
▸ 1 brown onion, peeled and chopped
▸ 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
▸ 1 tbs fresh ginger, grated
▸ 1 tbs mild curry powder
▸ 1 tsp ground turmeric
▸ ½ tsp chilli powder (optional)
▸ 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into small cubes
▸ 2 carrots, peeled and chopped into 1cm slices
▸ 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
▸ 4 cups vegetable stock
▸ 250g cherry tomatoes
▸ 4 handfuls shredded greens
▸ Salt and pepper to taste

TO SERVE:
▸ Toasted pumpkin seeds
▸ Finely shredded purple cabbage
▸ Finely chopped coriander
▸ Greek yoghurt

METHOD:
▸ Heat the oil or ghee in a large saucepan on medium-low heat.
▸ Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes or until translucent.
▸ Add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook, stirring frequently for another 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
▸ Add the sweet potato and carrot and saute for a further 5 minutes.
▸ Add the lentils and stock to the pan, season with salt and pepper.
▸ Bring to the boil and then reduce to heat to a gentle simmer for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are cooked, stirring from time to time. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir through cherry tomatoes and shredded greens.
▸ Serve dahl topped with a spoon of yoghurt, cabbage, coriander and toasted seeds.

(Serves 4-6)

Quick, easy, full of nutrition and warming from the inside out – what more could you want from a winter meal?

03/06/2021

Is what you’re eating feeding your anxiety? Check out this weeks blog post over at to find out! Link is also in my bio.
Also score the recipe to my favourite porridge (pictured), just in time for winter!

28/05/2021

Ah, Melbourne. Here we go again, looking down the barrel of another COVID lockdown. As an introvert, I have to admit that I sometimes (often) daydream about social plans being cancelled last minute. So, it’s not the 7-day lockdown that has me feeling flat, it’s the uncertainty of what comes ‘next’. After 7 days, can my best friend reschedule her baby shower? Can my family take our planned weekend away to celebrate my niece’s 2nd birthday? Can I make plans for the future? Will our lives ever be back to normal? What is normal? Woah, Nelly! No wonder I’m suddenly feeling stressed. You are too? Here’s a few things I’m doing to keep myself on track.

• Stop the sn*******ng thoughts. Yes, easier said than done but repeat after me “I am not my thoughts”. When you notice your thoughts starting to spiral and snowball, consciously stop yourself. What can you hear/see/feel/touch in this present moment? Focus on that and treat it as a circuit-breaker.

• Don’t put your life on hold. Get up, get dressed, eat properly, and keep taking your supplements. Maybe you can’t go out, but you can still take care of yourself.

• Get some fresh air. Yeah, it’s cold, maybe it’s even raining but a bit of water won’t hurt you (unless you’re the Wicked Witch of the West). If you’re working from home, or home schooling, taking regular mini-breaks will be vital to your sanity. Even better, take advantage of the time allocated to exercise and get your body moving.

• Be kind to yourself. Acknowledge and accept that this is tough, we’re all feeling fatigued and stressed. Have faith that things will calm down and we will get back to ‘normal’, even if it does look a bit different now.

Whilst we might be ‘all in this together’, it is important to recognise we’re all facing different circumstances and dealing with different complexities. It’s OK to feel stressed and upset, it’s even OK to feel relieved at being holed up at home for a little while. This is unchartered territory but with the help of our support networks and a little bit of self-care, it’ll be over before we know it.

Xx

19/05/2021

If I had a dollar for every blank stare I’ve received when I’ve asked a patient: “How do you replace the meat when you have a vegetarian meal?” Far and away the most common answer is “I don’t” - no wonder you’re hungry!
Plant-based eating, or “meat-free Mondays” are definitely trending and this weeks’ blog over on the website will help you reduce meat, increase veggies AND still get your protein in. Link in bio x

11/05/2021

Homer Simpson might have said that you don’t make friends with salad, but I disagree! Read this weeks blog via the website to learn my tips and tricks to turn salad from a plate of sad iceberg lettuce and soft tomatoes, into an impressive meal that could win over anyone! Link in bio x

04/05/2021

New Article by Naturopath Laura.

How to turn the leafy greens you grew or purchased with all the good intentions into simple, nutritious, delicious meals.

“Naturopath Laura’s article had me salivating, so many tasty ideas. Can’t wait to try them.” - Naturopath Carla

https://www.peninsulaherbaldispensary.com.au/6-simple-ways-to-eat-more-greens/

04/09/2020

Mood Matters! Especially now. Our Naturopath's Laura and Kimberley provide you a 10 tip guide to help you keep on top of your mental health, during the global pandemic.

https://www.peninsulaherbaldispensary.com.au/your-mood-matters/

01/06/2020

My newest blog post - read all about some of our favourite tools of the trade down at PHD ❤️

5 Heavy Hitters to Keep in Your Natural Health First Aid Kit - this new article by Naturopath Laura is a must read. Learn how you can create your very own natural immune support first aid kit.

https://www.peninsulaherbaldispensary.com.au/natural-health-first-aid-kit/