Dr. Jasmina Dedic-Hagan

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Turramurra, NSW
Dr. Jasmina Dedic-Hagan

Functional Medicine Doctor | CMO & Founder, Vitality360 | Helping Women Reclaim Their Energy & Health | PhD Molecular Biology

As Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Vitality360, I help people reclaim their energy, optimise their health, and achieve long-term vitality through evidence backed functional medicine. My approach identifies and addresses the root causes of fatigue, hormonal imbalances, stubborn weight, and metabolic dysfunction, delivering practical, science-based solutions for long-term health. With a background in functional medicine and molecular biology, I bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application, with a strong focus on women’s health. In my clinical practice, I take a comprehensive approach - integrating nutrition, lifestyle, fitness, and, when necessary, targeted supplementation or medication - to help women feel their best at every stage of life. I am passionate about making complex medical science accessible and actionable. With extensive teaching experience, I specialise in translating the latest research into practical strategies through workshops, content, and expert guidance. At Vitality360, my mission is to empower women to take control of their health, restore their energy, and build long-term resilience.

10/10/2025

What if the antidepressants you've been prescribed aren't addressing the real problem?

Iron is essential for dopamine production - your brain's "feel-good" chemical.

Low iron directly impacts your ability to feel motivated, energised, and mentally sharp.

One in five Australian women live with iron disorders, and shockingly, many spend years being treated for depression instead of the underlying iron deficiency causing their symptoms.

Both conditions cause fatigue, low mood, brain fog, and that overwhelming feeling of not being able to function at your best. But here's what most doctors don't tell you: iron is crucial for dopamine production, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and mood regulation.

Standard ferritin tests measure iron storage proteins, not actual bioavailable iron. For women with endometriosis, thyroid conditions, or any inflammatory process, these tests can show "normal" levels while you're actually severely deficient.

This is particularly relevant for women in perimenopause and beyond, where multiple factors converge: changing hormones affect iron absorption, chronic stress creates inflammatory responses that mask deficiency, and gut health issues reduce our ability to absorb iron from food.

New quantum sensor technology using nano-diamonds can actually measure iron content within ferritin proteins, not just the proteins themselves. This could revolutionise diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

If you've been struggling with persistent fatigue, especially if antidepressants haven't fully resolved your symptoms, it's worth investigating your iron status more thoroughly.

Request comprehensive testing including inflammatory markers, and consider working with a practitioner who understands the complexity of iron metabolism in women's health.

Your fatigue isn't "just stress" or "normal aging." Your symptoms deserve proper investigation and root cause solutions.

Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/25/misdiagnosis-of-iron-deficiency-can-lead-to-years-of-debilitating-illness-could-nanodiamonds-be-the-solution?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

04/10/2025

High Calcium & Protein Steel Cut Oats... Here's the full recipe!👇🏼

✨Ingredients (1 serving):

- 1/3 cup dry steel cut oats (27g)
- 1 scoop (20g) unflavored collagen peptides
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed (7g)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (12g)
- 1/2 cup wild blueberries (74g)
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts (14g)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup soy milk (240ml) (or dairy or unsweetened almond)
- 1/2 cup water for cooking

✨Macronutrient Breakdown:

Calories: 565
Protein: 32g (23%)
Carbohydrates: 46g (33%)
Fat: 27g (43%)
Fiber: 15g

✨Key Nutrients:

- Omega-3s: 3.2g (flax, chia, walnuts)
- Magnesium: 210mg (50% DV)
- Iron: 4.2mg (23% DV)
- Calcium: 620mg (48% DV)
- Vitamin B12: 1.1mcg (46% DV)
- Isoflavones: 25mg (hormone-supporting phytoestrogens)

Will you try this for breakfast? I'd love to hear below!

03/10/2025

Bad sleep happens, but smart recovery prevents one restless night from becoming a week of exhaustion.

For women in perimenopause, poor sleep isn't just a one off inconvenience - it can be a daily battle due to the changes occurring in your biochemistry.

Declining estrogen disrupts your circadian rhythm by reducing melatonin production and affecting your body's internal thermostat.

Your recovery protocol should start the moment you wake up:

➡️ Natural light exposure within 30 minutes of waking helps reset your suprachiasmatic nucleus - your body's master clock.

➡️You will likely crave quick energy (think sugar) hits, but this creates blood sugar rollercoasters that worsen afternoon energy crashes. Instead, prioritise protein and healthy fats to stabilise glucose levels.

➡️ Support your nervous system with magnesium glycinate which enhances energy production without overstimulating your already fragile system.

Surprisingly, trying to 'catch up' on sleep by going to bed early actually creates more fragmentation. Maintaining your regular bedtime, even after poor sleep, strengthens your circadian rhythm rather than confusing it further.

I know how awful it can feel after a bad night of sleep, but what you do the next day can make a huge difference to your recovery!

27/09/2025

Zone zero movement could be the life-changing piece of your exercise regimen that you've been overlooking.

Research shows that women's bodies are naturally more efficient at fat oxidation, but as estrogen declines, our stress response becomes hypersensitive.

This means those punishing HIIT sessions might actually be working against your hormones. Zone zero - movement at just 50% of your maximum heart rate - reduces cortisol levels whilst supporting mitochondrial function. Think gentle walks, light stretching, standing at your desk, parking further away.

Our ancestors lived in zone zero most of their lives - constant gentle movement that supported metabolic flexibility without overwhelming the stress response. For women in midlife, this approach is particularly crucial because it helps maintain insulin sensitivity without triggering inflammatory cascades.

Another surprising benefit?

For those who do high intensity interval training, or are working on increasing their VO2 max, those who do more daily steps in zone zero have BETTER training adaptations. Your body doesn't want you crushing a workout then becoming a couch potato. You need the intense sessions for speed, but constant gentle movement is what makes the magic happen.

Start small.
Move often.
Trust your body's wisdom.

🔥🔥🔥

Read Full Article: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/10/the-zone-zero-secret-how-ultra-low-stress-exercise-can-change-your-life?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

25/09/2025

The chemicals in your food don't stay in your food - they become part of your baby's first environment. 🫣

New research from Argentina reveals a sad reality: 64% of pregnant women have multiple pesticide residues detectable in their urine, with rural women facing twice the pregnancy complications of urban women.

The most concerning finding? Women with pregnancy complications - including intrauterine growth restriction and gestational hypertension - showed significantly higher numbers of pesticides and specifically triazole fungicides in their systems.

Triazole fungicides, widely used on wheat, corn, and soy, disrupt placental hormone production, particularly progesterone synthesis essential for healthy pregnancy.

The challenge is that regulatory systems test individual chemicals, but we're exposed to mixtures that create additive effects at concentrations considered 'safe' individually.

From a functional medicine perspective, this highlights the critical importance of preconception care. Even urban women showed concerning pesticide levels, proving food is a major exposure route.

Supporting your detoxification pathways 3-6 months before conception, choosing organic for high-pesticide foods, and optimising your liver function are essential foundations for your baby's health.

Your exposome - the totality of your environmental exposures - shapes your child's development from day one.

Does this new research shock you?

PMID: 40570729

10/09/2025

What conventional medicine often overlooks is how specific foods create intestinal permeability, triggering systemic inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction.👇🏼

When your gut barrier becomes compromised, it allows bacterial toxins and inflammatory compounds to enter systemic circulation, creating immune responses that can manifest as autoimmune conditions, neurological symptoms, and chronic inflammation.

The 5 key culprits I see:

➡️ Ultra-processed seed oils → Create inflammatory cascades and disrupt tight junction proteins
➡️Gluten-containing grains → Trigger zonulin release, increasing intestinal permeability especially in those with pre-existing gut issues.
➡️Conventional dairy → Most commercial dairy contains A1 beta-casein, which breaks down into BCM-7 during digestion which has been associated with inflammatory responses and digestive symptoms in those with gut issues/permeability.
➡️Refined sugars → Create dysbiosis, feeding pathogenic bacteria and increasing LPS production
➡️Artificial additives → Directly damage intestinal epithelial barrier and alter microbiome composition

You can often see significant improvements in autoimmune symptoms when gut dysfunction is addressed through:

- Elimination of inflammatory foods
- Gut barrier restoration protocols
- Targeted supplementation
- Regular biomarker monitoring

The reality is that many of these gut disrupting foods are hiding in our kitchens every day - in products we consider "healthy" or normal parts of our routine.

These daily exposures can accumulate and compromise gut health over time. Starting with a careful evaluation of what's in your pantry and gradually removing potential triggers from your home environment is often the first step toward healing!

x

02/09/2025

The field of nutrigenomics (how genes interact with nutrients) is revolutionising our understanding of mental health.👏🏼

Studies demonstrate that common genetic variants can significantly impact how our bodies process nutrients essential for neurotransmitter production (PMID: 28777294).

➡️MTHFR gene variants, carried by up to 40% of the population, can impair folate metabolism. Since folate is critical for producing mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, these variants may contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mood challenges - though they're just one piece of the puzzle.

➡️This is particularly relevant for women, as hormonal changes during perimenopause can interact with these genetic factors. Declining estrogen levels further disrupt neurotransmitter production, potentially compounding symptoms in those with MTHFR variants.

The functional medicine approach examines individual genetic profiles alongside nutrient status as part of a comprehensive assessment. Rather than assuming everyone needs the same nutrients, this information can help inform personalised support protocols.

For example, individuals with MTHFR variants may benefit from:

👉🏽 methylated forms of B vitamins, like methylfolate, over synthetic folic acid or
higher doses of cofactors like magnesium and zinc to support methylation pathways.

Understanding your genetic factors can help optimise nutrition for your unique biochemistry as part of a holistic strategy for mental health - working alongside other evidence-based treatments when needed.

✨Important note: MTHFR variants are one of many factors that can influence mental health, not a standalone solution.

Are you curious about how genetics might be one factor influencing your mental health?😍

29/08/2025

As a functional medicine practitioner, I’m fascinated by how circadian biology influences how our bodies process food. Emerging research reveals that our metabolism follows a daily rhythm, impacting how we handle macronutrients like carbs, fats, and proteins. Timing matters....here’s why.

✨What Current Research Shows:

➡️Circadian rhythms drive metabolism: Our body’s internal clock, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), controls metabolic processes. Studies have found that insulin sensitivity peaks in the morning due to cortisol’s natural rise, making daytime ideal for processing glucose heavy meals.

PMID: 32079066

➡️Glucose metabolism varies by time: A 2025 review in Nutrients shows glucose tolerance is highest in the morning and declines by evening, when melatonin suppresses insulin secretion. Eating carbs like fruit earlier aligns with this rhythm, potentially reducing blood sugar spikes.

PMID: 35429128

➡️Insulin sensitivity is time-sensitive: Eating during the active phase (daytime for most) enhances insulin sensitivity, lowering risks of obesity and diabetes. Late night eating, however, disrupts this rhythm, reducing insulin efficiency by up to 30% in some studies.

PMID: 36771435

➡️Individual differences are key: Genetics (e.g., clock gene variations), chronotype (morning vs. evening preference), and health status (e.g., diabetes) shape how meal timing affects you. Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) can help identify how well your body processes carbohydrates at specific times of the day.

✨Historical Eating Patterns:

➡️Many cultures ate fruits during daylight hours, likely due to availability (fresh harvests) and lack of preservation methods.

Your body’s signals are your best guide. Pay attention to how meal timing impacts your energy, sleep, and well-being, and share your observations below!

27/08/2025

20 minutes in nature = measurable stress reduction. Here's why that matters for your brain.👇🏼

What many practitioners overlook is how chronic stress drives inflammation - and how nature might be one of our most accessible interventions.

Chronic stress disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to elevated cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels. This dysregulation drives inflammation through allostatic loading and dysregulated glucocorticoid function, overactivating the immune system and producing excessive inflammatory molecules like C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Persistent stress creates this cycle of immune dysregulation, with these inflammatory markers directly linked to depression and cognitive impairment. This underscores why interventions that modulate the stress response are crucial for protecting brain health..

Dr. Qing Li's research demonstrates that forest bathing - mindfully engaging with nature using all five senses - can significantly reduce these stress hormones.

Studies show just 20 minutes of nature exposure daily can make a measurable difference! 🤯

The mechanism is straightforward: forest environments activate our parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) while reducing sympathetic overdrive (fight or flight). This helps support healthy HPA axis function.

In my functional medicine practice, I recommend:
→ 20+ minutes of mindful nature exposure daily. I call it green (trees) and / or blue (river / ocean) time.
→ Engaging all five senses (forest bathing technique)
→ Combining with breathwork for enhanced stress reduction
→ Tracking stress markers like cortisol to measure improvement

Since chronic stress contributes to inflammation, and inflammation affects brain health, supporting your stress response through nature may be one of the most important things you can do for long-term cognitive wellbeing.

What's your experience with nature's impact on stress and mental clarity? 🌲

13/08/2025

My top anti-aging secret? Build muscle mass.

Here's what no one tells you about "healthy ageing": you can tick every wellness box - Mediterranean diet, yoga classes, 8 hours sleep - yet still watch your strength slip away year after year.

Traditional approaches often miss the cellular reality of ageing muscle.

Groundbreaking 2025 research caught my attention because it validates something I've been observing : sometimes your body needs more targeted intervention than "eat more protein and lift weights." The study examined HMB (β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate) supplementation in adults over 50, including those already experiencing significant muscle loss.

What makes this research compelling isn't just the impressive outcomes:

➡️ nearly 1.6kg of skeletal muscle gain
➡️ improved grip strength
➡️ enhanced mobility markers

What's most compelling is what it reveals about ageing muscle biology. After menopause, our cells become increasingly resistant to the same signals that once built and maintained muscle effortlessly.

HMB works by addressing this resistance at its source. As a metabolite of leucine (the most anabolic amino acid), it essentially bypasses some of the communication breakdowns that occur in ageing muscle cells. It activates mTOR - your cellular growth centre - while simultaneously blocking the pathways responsible for muscle breakdown. 🤯

The protocol that showed optimal results was:

➡️ 3 grams of calcium HMB daily for at least 12 weeks.

HMB doesn't replace resistance training or adequate protein intake; it enhances their effectiveness when your body's natural responsiveness has diminished.

For women navigating perimenopause and beyond, when hormonal shifts compound muscle loss challenges, having evidence-based tools that work WITH your changing physiology rather than against it feels revolutionary.

What are your thoughts? Have you heard of HMB?

PMID: 31484462
PMID: 30677545

(2025 study: Frontiers in Nutrition meta-analysis DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1522287)

11/08/2025

Previously considered, "heart healthy", the truth is that these processed omega-6 seed oils are far from it... What if the oils in your kitchen are secretly aging you faster than you've been told?

Here's what you need to know:

These eight oils specifically:

➡️ corn
➡️ canola
➡️ cottonseed
➡️ soy
➡️ sunflower
➡️ safflower
➡️ grapeseed
➡️ rice bran

- they didn't exist 150 years ago, yet they're now the single largest source of calories for most people.

Here's what makes them problematic:

➡️ The harsh industrial refining process uses hexane solvents, extreme heat, and pressure to extract every drop of oil. This strips away protective nutrients like choline, lecithin, and phospholipids that nature provides, leaving behind nutritionally empty oils. Studies show these processing byproducts can persist in the final oil and contribute to inflammatory responses (PMID: 35069038).

➡️ High linoleic acid (omega-6) in these oils alters your cell membrane composition, potentially increasing inflammation and oxidative stress. This cellular damage underlies virtually all chronic disease and accelerated aging...

The disturbing truth is that some of these same oils are used as engine lubricants and pesticides.... So why are we consuming them?

Research links these oils to increased risks of colon cancer, obesity, diabetes, and inflammation (PMID: 40075437).

PS: Not all seed oils are villains - flax, and h**p can be beneficial as they are abundant in omega-3's and lower in omega-6.

Ready to make the swap?

07/08/2025

What if it wasn't what you ate, but your environment that was making you store excess fat and contribute to global obesity? Your stubborn weight gain might not be about willpower but about your body's toxic load!

This hit me like a lightning bolt when I discovered how environmental toxins are hijacking our metabolism. We're not just dealing with calories in, calories out anymore.

Since the industrial revolution, we've been exposed to over 80,000 chemicals that our great-grandmothers never encountered. These "obesogens" are foreign compounds that disrupt fat metabolism and create weight gain - independent of how much you eat or exercise.

Think about this: one-third of your entire DNA codes for enzymes that catalyse metabolic reactions. When toxins bind to these enzymes, they block their function, leading to faulty biology and stubborn weight gain.

Damaged mitochondria can't produce energy efficiently, disrupted hormones send confused hunger signals, and chronic inflammation keeps your body in storage mode instead of burning mode.

But here's your power move:

Start reducing your toxic load TODAY.

Swap plastic containers for glass, choose organic where it matters most, sweat regularly through exercise or saunas, and fuel your detox pathways with cruciferous vegetables and quality protein.

Your body has an incredible capacity to heal and detoxify - but only when we stop overwhelming it with toxins whilst supporting its natural cleansing systems.

Small changes compound into massive metabolic improvements.

PMID: 37230178, 34899613

Address

Turramurra, NSW
2074

Website

http://www.lindenhealth.com.au/, https://v360.health/

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