Lesley Burch

15/10/2025

What we put into our bodies leaves a longer imprint than we realise. Even prescription medicines.

This new research shows that common medications - from antibiotics and antidepressants to reflux and blood pressure drugs - can disrupt the gut microbiome for years. Even if you stop taking it.

The average adult has about 30 trillion human cells but it hosts roughly 38 trillion microbial cells!

Not only that, the collective microbiome has at least 100 times more genes than the human genome which influence digestion, mood, immunity, and even how we metabolise medications.

Now you see why we need to take care of it.

This isn't a call to 'cancel' medication or to stop your script. It's a call to increase awareness of the knock-on effects and highly the need to help our microbiome recover so it can keep working it's best for us.

Read the study here:

This is the first study using detailed retrospective medication usage data from electronic health records to systematically assess the long-term effects of medication usage on the gut microbiome. We identified carryover and additive effects on the gut microbiome for a range of antibiotics and non-an...

20/09/2025

Buy your supplements from your supermarket or pharmacy?
Loud labels telling you "I'm the supplement for you!"?

Read this. And read it again.

Unregulated, unproven, dust might be all you're spending your hard earned $$ on.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/177jr8srP9/

07/07/2025

11/05/2025

This is such a fantastic video showing how different our performance can be depending on where we are in our cycle.

Not only can we feel flat, but we can feel flat in the gyms or our sport events too.

Notice your thoughts when reflecting on your performance, check in on your cycle and give buckets of grace to the work your body is doing that you are not in control of or even aware of.

That body is working hard 24/7, you are such a complex creature, give grace and exhale.

Then, plan for your next session 💪

29/04/2025

Mmmm cookie 🍪 🤪

04/04/2025

Why kindness is the winter immune booster you didn’t know you needed.

Doing something for others doesn’t just feel good—it strengthens your body too. Research shows acts of kindness can shift gene expression, reducing inflammation and boosting antiviral defences at the mRNA level.

Meanwhile, stress and self-focus do the opposite, weakening immunity over time.

Your winter wellness goal?
Look beyond yourself. A small act of generosity—checking in on a friend, lending a hand, or simply sharing a smile—can support both your well-being and theirs.

Because true health isn’t just about what you take in, but what you give out.

Start preparing your body for winter wellness by taking action today.

01/04/2025

Denial is meant to be a short-term plan, not a way of life.

29/03/2025

Stress often feels overwhelming because we see ourselves as carrying it alone. The bigger the focus on "me," the heavier it gets.

When we feel small in the face of nature, history, or something greater, our problems shift in scale. They don’t disappear, but they lose their grip. The small self perspective reminds us that we are part of something vast—our struggles are real, but they are not everything.

Step outside tonight and look at the sky. Really look. Let yourself feel how small you are, not in a way that diminishes you, but in a way that frees you. What’s one worry that feels lighter when you zoom out?

28/03/2025

Another magnificent local fruit and veg box from Fresco Produce. This produce is unreal, lasts weeks and is fresh fresh fresh 😍🫶

26/03/2025

How can you improve the plot of your life so that it's a life worth living?

23/03/2025

A Happiness Set-Point? What's that?

Just like your body has a natural weight set-point—the range it tends to settle at despite diet and exercise—your happiness also has a set-point. No matter what life throws at you, whether it’s a big win or a major setback, you tend to return to your baseline level of happiness over time.

But here’s the catch: just as restrictive dieting can disrupt your weight set-point, constantly comparing yourself to others can skew your happiness set-point.

Tibetan philosophy teaches that true contentment comes from looking inward, not outward. When we measure our worth against someone else’s highlight reel, we’re not just robbing ourselves of joy—we’re handing over control of our happiness.

Your happiness set-point isn’t fixed, but shifting it upward doesn’t come from chasing external validation. It comes from aligning your life with what genuinely matters to you—your values, your pace, your version of success.

The more you reconnect with yourself, the less power comparison has over you, and the more stable your happiness—and your happiness set-point becomes.

20/03/2025

In a world that preaches self-care and personal fulfilment, we've become increasingly focused on ourselves—our goals, our well-being, our happiness. And while tending to our own needs is essential, something subtle but significant is happening: the more we prioritise only ourselves, the more fleeting our happiness becomes.

Read that again.

Doing something for yourself—buying a treat, indulging in rest, achieving a goal—creates a short-term boost. It feels good in the moment, but like any quick hit, the effect fades. The next thing calls, the next milestone, the next craving for more.

Another hit.

On the other hand, doing something for someone else—an act of kindness, generosity, or simply being present—has a different impact. It doesn’t always bring the same immediate rush, but it creates a deeper, more lasting sense of fulfilment. It compounds over time, shifting your focus outward, widening your perspective, and reinforcing connection—one of the greatest sources of sustained happiness.

The irony? In our pursuit of happiness, we’ve turned inward, but true, lasting happiness often lies in looking outward.