Emily The Naturopath

02/09/2022

This post has been a long time coming! I had so many plans this year to be on Instagram sharing health info and the work that I do. And I had so many plans for my business too! But what a year it has been. So much that was unexpected and my family continues to try and move through.

It's been such a tough year, but one of the shining lights has been growing this little bubba and impatiently anticipating his arrival (which is in less than 2 weeks 😱).

I thought I should officially share the news on here before he actually arrives. My first pregnancy involved a lot of time in bed watching Netflix and having quiet moments. Second pregnancy has been quite different 😂 swipe across to see an accurate depiction of what I've been doing every day 🤪

My plan is to return to seeing patients sometime next year, so I will be back eventually. Apologies if you've messaged or emailed and I haven't responded, I will do my best 🙏

09/04/2022

Does sugar cause acne?

Yes it can be a contributing factor, especially if you have blood sugar dysregulation and/or insulin resistance.

Now, eating a little bit of sugar every now and then is totally ok, I'm not here to demonize it. But if you're consistently eating a diet high in sugar then it will start to cause issues.

Sugar is absorbed into the blood, raising your blood sugar levels, which in turn raises your insulin levels. Higher insulin levels can then increase androgen levels (hormones like testosterone and the most potent one for skin- DHT). These increased androgens then ramp up sebum production in your skin creating the perfect environment for acne.

To add to that, sugar is also quite inflammatory to the body and excessive intake can causes imbalances in your gut microbiome and lead to things like SIBO and dysbiosis. High sugar intake has also been shown to depress your immune function, which is important for managing inflammation and acne infection in your skin.

Insulin resistance is a huge underling and often hidden factor in acne and excess sugar intake is one of the drivers. Certain types of PCOS are driven by insulin resistance so if you're this type you will want to be sticking to a low sugar diet.

Remember though, fruit is not your enemy, and 2 serves of fruit per day, especially lower sugar fruit like apples and berries and great for the body.

So if you've got acne, have a look at how much sugar you're eating each day.

10/09/2021

Functional gut testing. Can it be helpful?

I've previously posted about my own experience with gut testing to correct my own skin issues post pregnancy. As you would know if you've read my previous posts, skin issues are always connected to your gut health. This is why testing can be helpful.

Functional pathology testing goes a bit deeper and is more detailed than standard testing done through your GP. It is also more expensive, but one that I think is a worthy and helpful investment in your health.

I love this gut test as it assesses a number of areas:
👉 the balance of your gut bacteria and if there is any imbalance (called dysbiosis) or overgrowth of bacteria that can become more pathogenic and inflammatory. Often I will find this is the case when skin issues arise. As you can see in my results, I do have a high level of dysbiosis (triggered by pregnancy, hormonal changes, medications from c- section and birth trauma, stress etc...). My body has been through a lot in the last few years so it's not really a surprise things are out of balance. But these results tell me how I can best support my gut and restore it to its former glory 😆

👉 Assessing digestive markers. This is so important as it shows how your gut is actually functioning, which will have a direct impact on your gut microbiome. It assesses things like enzyme production (elastase), inflammatory markers (calprotectin), leaky gut markers (zonulin), and gut mucosal lining integrity (secretory IgA). All of this information let's me know what I need to focus on to support my digestion and improve my gut health.

So, this is a little snapshot of what comprehensive testing can show 🤗 It helps to inform and really individualise treatment, so there's less mucking about 😎

18/07/2021

Today I got my period.

I knew it was coming because I track them and also because I felt it in my body. My typical pre-menstrual feelings tend to be a little more fatigue and increased hunger, especially for some carbs (when I want PB on toast for dinner I know my period is on its way 😆).

But I've been sick this last month thanks to babyhood germs and my body is much more run down.

So this time I noticed a lot more fatigue, a lot more irritability and increased hunger cravings before my period.

This is a perfect example of how pre-menstrual syndrome can really amp up when you've been pushing your body too much, neglecting your health or going through a whole heap of stress- whatever that may be.

The good part is knowing that it's your body's way of telling you to redirect your focus back to your health and address any areas in your life that aren't serving you.

If you listen to it.

And please do 💖

Things like period pain, heavy bleeding, emotional rollercoasters, sore b***s and sugar cravings can all disappear when you start to support your body and focus on healing.

Isn't that just brilliant? 😊💖

20/06/2021

The oral contraceptive pill, your hormones and your skin 🤔

Ah geez! This will eventually be a blog post because it's MEGA, so look out for that. There's so much to be said.

While the pill has been a game changer for contraceptive and women's sexual freedom, the other things that the pill is most commonly prescribed for are:

1. Period pain and heavy periods
2. Acne

Unfortunately the pill is not a long term solution, nor does it address underlying factors that contribute to these conditions. It might temporarily clear your skin or reduce your period pain, but once you stop it, these conditions most often return.

In fact, if you have underlying hormonal imbalances the pill is going to make them worse, and you will see this when you decide to come off the pill. This is often when women want to have a baby or when they can't handle that many debilitating sides effects of the pill any longer, and then they have so much more work to do than before they were on the pill!

The pill switches off your own hormone production. You don't ovulate and you don't have a real period- a pill bleed is not a period. When you come off the pill your hormones have to re-learn how to do their thing, and sometimes this can be a long, difficult journey.

The pill also affects your nutrient status by depleting your body of zinc and B vitamins, which are vital for a) skin health b) liver detoxification (for hormone balance!) and c) neurotransmitter production to support your mental health.

Studies have shown that the pill can also negatively affect your gut microbiome and increase your likelihood of developing dysbiosis (an imbalance in your gut bacteria) or SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Yikes!

So if you want to reduce painful periods or clear up you skin, the pill is really not the way to go. There's so much more you can do for your own health that actually addresses the underlying issues and will give you lasting results!

Stay tuned for more about the pill and why you should avoid it or how you can support your body coming off of it 😊💕

14/06/2021

Are you breaking out at a particular time in your menstrual cycle?

Often women will notice that their skin breaks out in the couple of weeks leading up to their period. This may also be accompanied by all the other lovely symptoms associated with PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), such as moodiness, fatigue, bloating and breast tenderness.

Acne leading up to your period is a sign that your hormones are out of whack- but you probably knew that already 😉

After ovulation (around the middle of your cycle), your oestrogen and progesterone and also androgens start to rise and peak, until just before your period when they plummet again. This rise is hormones can be an issue if your body is not effectively detoxifying and eliminating hormones like it should. When hormones build up in excess this leads to inflammation which in turn will trigger acne flares.

Supporting your liver and your gut health is key to balancing your hormones, eliminating PMS symptoms and supporting your skin health.

A few quick tips for supporting healthy hormone detox are:
👉 drink enough water (please, I can't stress this enough)
👉 eat enough fibre (unsure what 'enough' is? Focus on whole grains and lots of veggies each day to start with)
👉 move those bowels each day
👉 Eat protein with each meal to balance your blood sugar
👉 support your nervous system and adrenal glands by managing stress and anxiety

Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg and not all of these may apply to you, so if you're confused please seek out treatment under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner 🙆 💕

09/06/2021

How does this make you feel?

This was a beautiful sandwich I made with lovely organic oat sourdough and a delicious filling. The ingredients were healthy and nourishing and wholesome.

But what if you eat this and it makes you feel bloated, heavy and like you need to take a nap?

🤢🤰

Does eating carby foods make you look pregnant and like you need to unzip your pants? 🤔

If you're thinking yes that's me! then it's a sign your digestion and your gut is out of balance.

Dysbiosis (an imbalance in your gut bacteria) and conditions like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) can result in excessive food fermentation in your gut by bacteria, and as a result they produce gasses which cause bloating.

Alongside bloating these conditions create a tonne of inflammation in your gut, which in turn creates a body-wide inflammatory state, leading to:

👉 hormone imbalances and skin issues like acne and eczema

So if you want to fix your hormones and your skin, and stop feeling bloated, you need to address your gut health.

How? I recommend working with a naturopath who can pinpoint your individual triggers, do some tailored testing and create a beautiful treatment plan just for you.

You can also have a squiz at my blog for tips on improving digestion and your gut xx

01/06/2021

Recently I mentioned I was becoming the patient again because I'd had some skin flare ups of my own 🤔

After the hormonal roller coaster of pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning and getting my period- not to mention the sleep deprivation that comes with being a new mumma- my skin started to protest. My skin always lets me know when things aren't right in my body.
🌸
It's my nurture point, and if you have skin issues, it's probably yours as well.
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Even though it's frustrating, try to see it as a helpful sign from your body. Your body's telling you things need to change and healing needs to happen. Some people get migraines, some high blood pressure, some frequent colds. Skin is my sign.

So I'm testing. I bought myself this test as my mother's day present to me 😂 (yes I bought a poo kit as a present).

Test don't guess.

I do a lot of testing with my patients, but only when I feel it's necessary. It's a helpful tool to really see what's going on, especially with complex cases. Basic blood testing is fantastic and a great place to start, but sometimes it's not comprehensive enough. Functional pathology testing is definitely pricier, but it offers a much more in depth insight into imbalances in your system.

Two of my favourite functional tests are the DUTCH test (for hormones) and the GI MAP test (for gut and hormones). No affiliation with these companies, I just really love using them to support patient treatment.

I look at testing as an investment in my health, and in the end it saves so much time trying to guess what's going on, so I can get into some really focused treatment and see the results I'm after 👍😍 Yes please!

31/05/2021

Non-digestive gut symptoms. Do you have these?

The gut is responsible for so much more than just your digestion:

Acne, eczema, allergies, hormone imbalances, endometriosis, period pain, PCOS, migraines, infertility, fatigue, autoimmunity and poor immunity.

THESE are all gut symptoms. They're what I call 'non-digestive gut symptoms'.

All of these conditions arise from gut inflammation and an imbalanced gut microbiome (also called dysbiosis).

You need to know this because in order to heal your skin and balance your hormones, you have to heal your gut. There's no way around it 😊 ❤

See the blog post beneath for more.

How exciting to finally get to the root of your health issues!

The gut is responsible for so much more than your digestion: acne, eczema, allergies, hormone imbalances all arise from your gut.

26/05/2021

After a beautiful and crazy maternity leave I'm back 😍

I've learnt so much during my time away from clinical practice (although I must admit, I did see a couple patients here and there 🙈) and I'm super duper excited to be back in my naturopath chair, ready to help and guide you with your health issues.

I'm coming back with a real focus on skin health, hormonal balance and gut health. Really, you can't talk about any without the other, right?

These are the things I love to help people with the most and honestly, it gives me energy to help people with these issues. I'd say this is because I've been there and I've dealt with all of these myself so I get how you're feeling!

I can't wait to get back into it, so if you're looking to connect and sort yourself out you can find more info about the how and when on my website.

Hope you all have a magical day and keep watching this space for great things 😍 xx

04/05/2021

My partner thinks I'm obsessed with eggs because everytime we're running low on time or food for dinner I tell him I'll just have eggs 😁

And it's because they are just so fabulous! (Maybe I am a little obsessed).

Great protein source, easy to digest, high in fat soluble vitamins like A, D, and E and also high in choline- needed for our livers and brains and especially for the pregnant, breastfeeding and little ones.

What's not to love?

I'll often hard boil half a dozen to keep in the fridge for a quick snack or protein addition to a meal 💕