Phillip Chua - Naturopath & Herbalist

11/08/2025

The foods you eat play a huge role in how you feel every day! As a naturopath and GAPS practitioner, I specialise in helping families use food to support digestion, boost energy and create lasting health. Are you ready and willing to make a change? Book a free discovery call with me today and get on the path to good health for life. 🔗 Link in bio: https://www.phillipchua.com/book-online-1

10/08/2025

Feeling off after antibiotics? Your gut may be depleted and in need of support. Our 10-day Gut Restoration Program helps rebuild your microbiome and reduce inflammation through real, living foods and naturopathic guidance. Let’s get you back in balance.
https://www.phillipchua.com/10daygutrestoration

09/08/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦
Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease are often labelled as 'thyroid problems', but that’s only part of the story. The truth is, these conditions are primarily immune disorders. The thyroid is caught in the crossfire — not the root of the issue.

Autoimmune thyroid disease often stems from deeper imbalances like gluten sensitivity, gut permeability, chronic infections, toxic exposures and hormone disruption. When the gut lining becomes leaky, foreign proteins and microbes escape into the bloodstream. The immune system flags them as threats — but sometimes, those proteins resemble thyroid tissue. That’s when the immune system starts attacking the thyroid in a case of mistaken identity.

A good place to start is to remove inflammatory triggers like gluten, casein (from dairy), soy and sugar, then focus on rebuilding the gut lining using therapeutic foods like meat stock, fermented vegetables and nutrient-dense animal fats. These foods not only support digestion and microbial balance, but also provide the raw materials needed to regulate immune response and hormone production.

Thyroid healing doesn’t begin in the neck. It begins in the gut.

08/08/2025

Graves’ disease – where being overachieving includes your heart rate.

07/08/2025

𝐆𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 - 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.
When someone says, ‘Heal your gut’, it can sound vague — but in autoimmune care, it’s critical.

Increased intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’) allows inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream, confusing the immune system. Over time, this confusion becomes chronic autoimmunity.

Some of the common approaches might include steps like:
- removing irritants such as gluten, sugar and processed oils
- introducing easy-to-digest, healing foods like meat stocks and fermented vegetables
- rebuilding microbial diversity with fermented dairy, kraut and targeted probiotics.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all diet — it’s a therapeutic strategy. Gut healing helps recalibrate immunity, reduce systemic inflammation, and restore energy and clarity.

06/08/2025

Do you experience brain fog, joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, or bloating — but nothing adds up?

Autoimmune disease often hides in plain sight. Symptoms may appear in unrelated systems because inflammation travels — and the immune system has access to every tissue. This can lead to ‘systemic confusion’.

The gut–brain–immune connection explains why a leaky gut might lead to anxiety, or why eczema might share roots with IBS.

Consider autoimmunity when:
-symptoms wax and wane
- blood tests are ‘normal’ but you feel far from it
- stress worsens symptoms
- there’s a family history of thyroid or inflammatory disease.

Don’t settle for ‘it’s all in your head’. If your symptoms don’t make sense, it’s time for a deeper look. Make a booking today with a professional who listens and supports your total wellbeing. 🔗 Link in bio: https://www.phillipchua.com/book-online-1

04/08/2025

Need some ideas on some quick foods to eat? Check out these gut-friendly options.

https://www.phillipchua.com/post/some-quick-fire-snack-ideas

The GAPS approach focuses on warm, soft, nutrient-dense foods to soothe the gut lining and nourish the immune system. Here are 3 favorite breakfast options.🥣 Meat stock & poached eggs – Start with a cup of warm meat stock, followed by soft poached eggs with sea salt, cooked spinach, and a dollo...

03/08/2025

Many autoimmune diseases share a common beginning — deep inside the digestive tract. A compromised gut lining becomes “leaky,” allowing undigested food particles, pathogens, and toxins to pass into the bloodstream. This overwhelms the immune system, which then begins attacking the body’s own tissues in error.

The immune system “misfiring” — confusing friendly cells for foreign invaders. Whether it’s Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis, the inflammation often traces back to gut dysbiosis and permeability.

So the question becomes: Why is the gut breaking down?

Blame can fall on overuse of antibiotics, poor diet, environmental toxins, chronic stress, and even a C-section birth. Healing must begin at the source — rebuilding the gut lining, correcting the microbiome, and supporting detoxification pathways.

Curious how to begin rebuilding your gut to support your immune system? Reach out to book a discovery call today. 🔗 Link in bio: https://www.phillipchua.com/book-online-1

01/08/2025

Why do so many women suddenly develop autoimmune symptoms around puberty, pregnancy or menopause?
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, in Gut and Physiology Syndrome, explains that early-life factors like antibiotics, C-section birth, formula feeding and ultra-processed food can severely damage the developing microbiome. This damage isn't always obvious in childhood — but it lays a fragile foundation.
The female immune system, already more active than the male’s, becomes particularly sensitive when estrogen levels fluctuate. These hormonal shifts amplify immune responses — and in a damaged terrain, this can tip the scales toward autoimmunity.
Hormonal changes may awaken previously dormant immune issues, especially when toxic burdens or gut permeability are present. Many female clients report symptom onset or flares postpartum or in perimenopause.
It’s not just about hormones. It’s the interaction between estrogen and a compromised gut–brain–immune axis. Women’s immune systems aren’t faulty — they’re reacting more intensely in a system that’s already inflamed.

31/07/2025

Next month is all about autoimmunity. We will be looking at autoimmune conditions, symptoms, the role of the gut and the brain plus much more. Follow along and leave a comment if you have any questions.

30/07/2025

Bloating, indigestion, unpredictable bowels? You don’t have to put up with it.
Our 10-day Gut Restoration program is here to help you reset your digestive system with real food, expert support and simple strategies that work. Start feeling better—naturally.
https://www.phillipchua.com/10daygutrestoration

28/07/2025

Sleep trackers can provide insight into patterns, but what matters most is how you feel. Use a simple log to track bedtime, wake time, number of night wakings and how refreshed you feel. Apps and wearables can add detail, but your daily energy, mood and focus are key indicators. Pay attention to the habits that improve your scores—like limiting caffeine, winding down earlier and getting daylight. Sleep tracking isn’t about obsession—it’s about awareness and empowerment.