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.

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

05/08/2025

Here's why cellular health is the KEY to lasting vitality...

Your mitochondria aren't just your cells' powerhouses, they're the foundation of how you age.

Research shows that ageing and age-related diseases are tightly related to an energy supply and demand imbalance, with mitochondrial dysfunction during ageing predisposing us to metabolic diseases (PMID: 35145250).

Your mitochondria - the energy factories in every cell - don't just need ANY nutrients. They're absolutely obsessed with specific foods that switch on your body's protective pathways.

Here's how to build the ultimate mitochondrial-supporting salad using insights from nutritional biochemist research.

1. Start with dark leafy greens - spinach, kale, and rocket are packed with magnesium, the mineral that powers over 300 enzymatic reactions in your mitochondria. These greens also provide folate, essential for cellular energy production and DNA repair. 🥬

2. Add broccoli sprouts. These contain up to 100x more sulforaphane than mature broccoli. Sulforaphane activates your NRF2 pathway, switching on over 200 protective genes that defend against oxidative stress and cellular aging. 🌱

3. Toss in some avocado for healthy monounsaturated fats that help your mitochondria maintain their membrane integrity. These fats also help you absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K - all crucial for cellular function. 🥑

4. Sprinkle in some nuts and seeds (especially walnuts for omega-3s) to provide CoQ10 and healthy fats and fibre that support mitochondrial membranes. 🌰

5. Don't forget the herbs! Coriander helps with heavy metal detoxification, while parsley provides antioxidants that protect your cellular powerhouses from damage. 🌿

6. Dress it with cold-pressed olive oil and lemon juice - the polyphenols in olive oil support mitochondrial biogenesis (the creation of new mitochondria), while vitamin C from lemon enhances iron absorption and provides antioxidant protection.🫒

Each ingredient works synergistically to fuel your mitochondria's energy production pathways. 😍

31/07/2025

Your bedtime scroll could be sabotaging your hormones (and here's the science to prove it) 💤

Your eyes contain special neurons called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells that detect light and directly signal your brain's master clock - the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
What happens when you scroll at night:

➡️Blue light tricks your brain into thinking it's daytime
➡️Cortisol spikes when it should be dropping
➡️Melatonin production gets suppressed
➡️Your circadian system becomes hypersensitive between 10 PM-4 AM

The empowering part? You can hack this system:

Morning Protocol:

➡️Get sunlight exposure within 1 hour of waking
➡️This programs your circadian clock for optimal sleep 16 hours later

Evening Protocol:

➡️Switch to dim, amber lighting after 10 PM
➡️Place lights low in the room
Use blue light blockers if devices are necessary
➡️NEVER check your phone during middle of the night wake ups.

Why this matters:

Your sleep controls immune function, hormone regulation, cellular repair, and metabolic health. Small changes to light exposure can transform your sleep quality within days.

Your circadian rhythm = your entire wellbeing ✨

PMID: 30311830
PMID: 32723201
PMID: 31534436
PMID: 33499010

29/07/2025

What if I told you your liver holds the key to ageing gracefully? 🔑

Your liver processes every toxin, medication, and hormone in your system:

➡️ When it's overloaded, these build up and accelerate cellular ageing. Research shows that detoxification reactions are connected to longevity markers - toxicants are major contributors to cellular damage and aging, making your liver's detox pathways crucial for healthy ageing (PMID: 18547875).

➡️ Your liver is your body's master glutathione producer - this crucial antioxidant is highly concentrated in liver tissue and exported to protect every organ system. As we age, production drops, making us vulnerable to inflammation and oxidative stress that speeds ageing.

➡️It controls your metabolic health: Your liver determines fat metabolism, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar stability. Studies show that human ageing triggers increased plasma concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol, while reducing the liver's ability to clear these lipids efficiently - directly contributing to cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk (PMID: 35130181).

My Favourite Liver Supportive Supplement Combo:

➡️ NAC & Glycine:

N-Acetyl-Cysteine boosts glutathione in every cell and neutralises heavy metals, while Glycine works synergistically as the "missing link" - the amino acid your body struggles to produce enough of as you age. When researchers supplemented participants with both for just 14 days, it restored glutathione synthesis rates to youthful levels! (PMID: 21795440).

Love your liver, and it will love you back with vibrant energy and graceful ageing! ✨

$Your strength training routine is missing the ONE thing that prevents falls, fractures, and fear of moving confidently t...$

24/07/2025

Your strength training routine is missing the ONE thing that prevents falls, fractures, and fear of moving confidently through perimenopause.

That stumble that nearly sent you flying last week? Your body's power output - not just strength - determines whether you recover gracefully or end up injured.

New research following 4,000 people reveals power (how quickly you can apply force) predicts longevity better than pure strength. And here's the kicker - power declines significantly faster during perimenopause as estrogen affects your fast-twitch muscle fibres.

This explains why that same weight feels heavier to lift quickly, or why catching yourself from a trip becomes harder - it's not about getting weaker, it's about losing explosive capacity.

Power training is actually gentler on your system than traditional strength work. Less time grinding through reps & more explosive movements that your mitochondria absolutely love.

When you understand the science, you can work WITH your biology instead of against it.

🧐April 2025 Research Study: Muscle Power Versus Strength as a Predictor of Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women

DOI:10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.02.015

SAVE THIS POST & start adding power to your fitness routine for healthy aging! x

21/07/2025

Perimenopause isn't about aging - it's "second puberty" that can start in your late 30s. Your estrogen doesn't gradually decline - it spikes up higher than normal, then crashes dramatically, month after month.

Meanwhile, progesterone drops first, creating that "can't cope" feeling that hits so many of us. This matters because progesterone soothes GABA receptors in your brain (it's literally your natural calming hormone).

High estrogen stimulates mast cells and histamine release, contributing to anxiety, insomnia, and heavy periods.

This is why some women find antihistamines surprisingly helpful during perimenopause!
Magnesium (300mg daily) can help to boost GABA and normalise hormone action on your nervous system (add taurine for even better mood support).

Your symptoms aren't "just hormones" - they're your body trying to speak to you and there's so much you can do to mitigate those frustrating symptoms!

Read each page to find out more you can do to support this hormone rollercoaster and share this with a friend or loved one who might need it. 🤍

10/07/2025

Your tampons contain 40x more toxic pesticides than drinking water is legally allowed to have (and the endometriosis connection will blow your mind...)

This isn't fear mongering... This is a reality check.

New reports found glyphosate in UK tampons at 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water (Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK)).

But here's what conventional medicine isn't telling you...

Multiple studies show women with higher pesticide exposure have 30-70% increased endometriosis risk, or a 5-fold increase 🤯 (PMID: 24192044, PMID: 20580667 ).

Unlike oral consumption, chemicals absorbed through the va**na bypass your body's detoxification systems and go straight into your bloodstream.

Think about this: Up to 86% of women use tampons, and we're inserting pesticide-laden cotton directly into one of the most absorptive tissues in our body for hours at a time, multiple days each month, for decades.

Your va**nal tissue is 10-80 times more absorptive than your skin. There's no legal requirement for manufacturers to list what's in tampons - they could contain PFAS, phthalates, dioxins, and now we know pesticides too.

Endometriosis is estrogen-dependent, and organochlorine pesticides have estrogenic properties.

Even banned pesticides from decades ago are still showing up in women's blood today and increasing endometriosis risk.

Your period isn't the problem. The products you're using might be.

What I tell my clients:
✓ Switch to silicone menstrual cups or organic cotton
✓ Support your detox pathways - liver, gut, lymphatic system
✓ Remember - endometriosis isn't your genetic destiny.

Your reproductive health deserves better. This conversation needs to happen 👇

FULL ARTICLE: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/28/toxic-pesticide-levels-found-in-tampons-40-times-higher-than-legal-limit-for-water?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Address

Turramurra, NSW
2074

Website

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

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