GBA Therapy (2025)

03/07/2025

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a seminar about slowing down the effects of aging upon the body and mitigating the risks of age related chronic diseases.

For day three of World Wellness Week, I thought I would share a couple of take aways from the event.

One jaw dropping statistic is that currently there are only an estimated 10% of individuals over the age of 70 who are living free from chronic disease. This means that although we have managed to extend life expectancy, for many, the quality of life can be severely impaired.

The aging process is a natural, beautiful process. However, it can be accelerated through environmental factors, 75%, and genetics, 25%.

Good nutrition plays a major role in reducing the chances of developing an age related chronic disease. Reducing blood sugars minimises the natural chemical process called glycation which causes tissues to lose elasticity. Resulting in wrinkles, weakened muscles and oxidative stress upon the body.
Including Omega 3, Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 into your daily diet has been shown to help slow down this process.

Ensuring you eat enough fibre, protein, antioxidants, Vitamin B12, Calcium and that you hydrate properly will help your body to function properly and to slow down biological aging.

It's so important that we are consuming the full nutrient profile. If you would like to be assessed for nutritional deficiencies, get in touch.

www.gbatherapy.com

02/07/2025

C R A V I N G S

After an incredibly warm night again last night, I imagine we are all feeling the effects of sleep deprivation. This can lead to increased snacking today as, studies have shown, that fatigue alters the brain's hunger cues-leading us to crave carb heavy, calorific foods.
We may think that the extra energy will help us to keep going, but it can leave us feeling more sluggish, bloated and low.
So for day three of World Wellness Week, I thought I would share a few tips to help avoid the crash.
Increase your protein intake and fill up on low calorie, fibre dense foods. This will help to mitigate the effects of blood sugar crashes and will also leave you feeling fuller for longer. Go for foods which take more work to chew, rather than soft overly processed foods. This enables your brain to register that the body has consumed food, for the same reason avoid distractions such as scrolling whilst eating, you will delay the release of hunger hormones.
Sleep deprivation increases our risk of dehydration by up to 59%. The body can confuse thirst with hunger so , when you start to feel the first niggles of hunger, reach for a large glass of water.
Get moving. Have a short walk, run, workout, stretch,, yoga session, dance...raise your heartrate and get the endorphins flowing. You will feel more alert and much less likely to reach for the snacks.
Finally, breathe. Give yourself a minute and create space between yourself and your craving. Approach it with curiosity. Ask yourself if you are really hungry and how you will feel after eating that snack. Make a deal with yourself to delay eating the snack for thirty minutes and carry on with your day, mindfully.

If you are struggling with longer term insomnia, possibly due to hormonal imbalance, stress or overwhelm and would like some help with nutrition and better sleep hygiene-get in touch for your free thirty minute consultation.

www.gbatherapy.com

01/07/2025

S U N L I G H T

For day two of World Wellness Week, consider adding a little sunshine to your mornings.
By getting outside for just 5-10 minutes, first thing, you are intentionally regulating your sleep/wake cycle. Providing you with energy for the day and stimulating the release of hormones to help you sleep. This is especially effective if you stay away from bright, overhead lights in the evenings.
You will also be boosting your mood, ability to focus and helping to stimulate the natural release of GLP-1. Adopt this routine with mindful intention and see this one small change help to increase your quality of life. ☀️

30/06/2025

Good morning,

Today marks the start of World Wellbeing Week. So what better week to begin taking control of your mental and physical wellbeing? Implementing small changes now can dramatically alter the landscape of your future.
You could set aside a few minutes a day for self reflection or yoga. You could improve mental and physical health through taking the time to walk in nature, the woods have been shown to have the highest positive impact upon mental health. You could try a few dietary changes for the week, or cut down on doom scrolling. You could even pledge to be kinder to yourself. Treat yourself as you would others, and make allowances for the fact that you are human.

What changes are you implementing this week?

Ellie.

27/06/2025

Are you feeling more tired, or run down lately? Have you started reacting to foods, gaining weight, struggling with a skin condition, anxiety or low self esteem?
The symptoms of deficiency in certain nutrients can creep up on us slowly, making it more difficult to remember a time when we felt "normal."
Nutrient interactions mean that deficiency in one nutrient can increase the chance of further deficiencies. Putting us at risk of poor mental health, poor gut health, hormonal imbalances, chronic illness, inflammation and premature aging.
If you are struggling, or if you are approaching a change in your life; such as menopause, pregnancy, a weight loss journey...get in touch for your free thirty minute consultation.
A full deficiency assessment can be performed online or in person. You will receive your results online, with a comprehensive guide of foods to include, and those to avoid. We will then meet for an hour to further discuss your results and create a plan for you moving forward. This could include recommendations for certain supplements and a suggested meal plan tailored to your needs.
I am currently offering this service for only £75. Book today, or get in touch for more information.

www.gbatherapy.com

14/05/2025

S T R E S S

Stress can affect the body in so many ways. Raising cortisol, BMI, blood pressure, suppressing the immune system, disrupting sleep and speeding up aging. It can also increase our alcohol and "comfort food" consumption, putting us at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Have you ever noticed that you seem to gain weight during times of acute stress? This is because cortisol activates enzymes which store fat when it comes into contact with fat cells. This is to provide us with a fast source of energy during stressful times, such as a sudden need to fight or flee. Central fat cells have four times as many cortisol receptors than fat cells under the skin, increasing fat storage in that area and creating an apple shape.

One study carried out amongst 59 pre-menopausal women found that those who felt the most stress, and had the highest cortisol levels, also stored the most central fat.

It is impossible to avoid stressful situations. These are incredibly busy times and many of us are overwhelmed with responsibilities. However, it is possible to alter the way we view our stressors and the way in which we respond. Living in fight or flight can prevent us from living in the present, we lose a sense of joy from simple day to day pleasures. Before we know it, weeks have flown by and we don't have much recollection of what happened during that time.

If you feel that stress is affecting you, you are struggling to cope or need support to regain perspective, calm down your system and lose the central fat storage; get in touch for your free thirty minute consultation.

www.gbatherapy.com

01/04/2025

Did you know that the contraceptive pill has been shown to decrease the levels of certain essential vitamins within the body, including vitamin E?

This means that long term use of the contraceptive pill may increase oxidative stress upon the body and elevate the chances of belly fat accumulating.

Vitamin E also promotes the absorption of zinc (and vice versa) which means that a vitamin E deficiency may lower the levels of zinc in blood serum. This can negatively impact upon the immune system and the body's metabolism.

If you feel that your immune system is weaker, you are having more issues with your vision, your muscles feel weaker or twitchy, your hormones feel out of balance or you are struggling with bouts of anxiety; it could be that you need to increase your intake of vitamin E.

Please always seek professional advice before supplementing, though. Especially if you suffer with heart disease, diabetes, blood clotting issues or cancer.

If you would like to talk about managing the effects of long term contraceptive use, be assessed for nutritional deficiencies, need support with weight loss, gut restoration or the menopause-please get in touch for your FREE thirty minute consultation.

www.gbatherapy.com

26/03/2025

Studies in the US have shown that around 25% of the general population are suffering from some sort of mental health disorder, including anxiety and depression.

Of this 25%, 75% were found to be deficient in Omega 3.

Another study found that supplementing 2250 mg of omega three and 500mg of omega 6, daily for three months, markedly reduced the symptoms of anxiety in substance abusers.

As we age, drops in oestrogen and progesterone can impact our mental health, inhibiting production of the feel good hormones and increasing anxiety.

Up to 50% of us are thought to experience mood changes and forgetfulness and nearly 40% will experience depression and/or anxiety.

An awareness of the changes in our bodies can help to minimise the impact they have upon us. Ensuring that we are nourishing our bodies with foods which boost our mental health and support cognition can dramatically change the landscape of our menopause and beyond.

As well as supporting cognition, reducing hostility, apprehension, anger and improving mood; Omega 3 may help to prevent against obesity, reduce high blood pressure, improve insulin resistance, reduce markers for inflammation and reduce hot flushes.

The essential omega 3 ALA can be found in foods such as flax, soy bean, walnuts and leafy greens. All of which can help to stabilise the effects of hormone imbalances.

So many women think they are losing their minds during this time, actively taking back control can be life changing.

If you would like to be assessed for any deficiencies, or need support with menopause, gut health, weight loss or improved mood-please get in touch for your free thirty minute consultation.

www.gbatherapy.com

16/03/2025

Good morning all and happy Sunday! Definitely a great day to get out for a boost in vitamin D!! ☀️ 😁

I am 45 and getting acquainted with peri. I have had three children and definitely no genetic advantages for fitness or weight maintenance…in fact I’d say I carry a good sprinkling of some of the over 200 genes which can influence obesity.

I tracked calories after childbirth but found that I developed huge feelings of guilt around food. I wasn’t paying attention to macros and I definitely had no idea whether I was supporting my body to function with the correct nutrients. At a time when I needed to replenish more than ever, I was restricting. I was exhausted, struggling with mood and developed food intolerances.

This started an (over) ten year journey into holistic healing. I become qualified in nutrition, menopause support, CBT and mindfulness practice. I am currently finishing my Masters in advanced clinical nutritional therapy and, personally, this is the strongest I have ever felt.

Weight loss or maintenance is possible as we age, it just requires a different approach. The first step would be assessment for any possible deficiencies which could be preventing your body from running at 💯 and holding on to those fat stores.

Cultivating a healthy relationship with food, learning how to eat instinctively and regain control over food will put you back in the driving seat. You should enjoy food! Remove the negative associations and eat to your hunger cues. This will also help to reduce the chances of developing future, age related, chronic diseases.

If you need any help, support or would like to be assessed for nutritional deficiencies please reach out. It’s time to take your power back.

www.gbatherapy.com

10/03/2025

F U N C T I O N A L F O O D S

Sometimes termed as "superfoods" these foods provide far more than just meeting our basic nutritional needs.

It is easy to get sidetracked with supplements, powders and overpriced fruits from across the globe; all promising to cure our ailments, increase longevity and slow down the aging process.

In truth, if you are looking to reduce the risk of developing certain chronic diseases, you can look much closer to home.

Research tells us that certain compounds in these functional foods can affect gene expression. For example, by eating a high volume of spinach, you are flooding your body with B vitamins. This can create a "master reset" for the body, preventing erratic gene instructions, cell mutation and diseases.

Resveratrol, found in red grapes, raw chocolate and blueberries, has been found to activate the SIRT1 longevity gene. Improving heart health, and possibly extending life span.

Trials run by Cancer Research have found that curcumin (found in turmeric) can destroy cancer cells and prevent more from growing. They continue to conduct more research into this incredible compound. It has also been found to have neuroprotective properties, helping to protect against neurodegenerative diseases and neurotoxicity.

The majority of us carry a pathogenic gene mutation, which is harmless unless we "switch it on". An awareness of the foods you are consuming, and a reduction in toxic load, is vital to support the body to thrive.

If you would like support in eating for disease risk reduction, please get in touch. You will get a free thirty minute consultation, nutritional deficiencies assessment and all the support and advice you need to help to protect your physical, and emotional, well being, over a specially created eight week course.

www.gbatherapy.com

21/02/2025

O Z E M P I C

Good morning,

I am really happy to tell you all that I have just secured a place at a seminar next Friday, which will be delving into the science behind synthetic GLP-1, such as Ozempic. This seminar will be led by the researcher in diet-health misinformation at UCL. All information will have been thoroughly researched before being presented, we obviously have little data on the long term effects or efficacy of these agonists.

If you are considering these injections, and would like to make an informed choice, please get in touch. There will be absolutely no judgement from me, everybody's journey is their own. However, one of my interests lies in disease prevention. I would strongly recommend a nutrient deficiency assessment and an awareness of the need for antioxidants to prevent a build up of toxins, due to rapid fat loss.

We could also discuss other weight loss methods, including ways of naturally increasing GLP-1.

As an advanced clinical nutritional therapist, my main priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of my clients. For more information, or for a free thirty minute consultation, please get in touch.

www.gbatherapy.com

07/02/2025

Did you know that during the process of refining wholewheat into white flour, up to thirty essential nutrients are removed. By law only four of these nutrients are replaced.
87% of essential minerals zinc, chromium and manganese are lost.

Wholewheat bread is packed with gut healthy fibre, lowering obesity and diabetes risk, and promoting heart health. Taking longer for the body to process, it will increase satiety levels and reduce the risk of blood sugar spikes and ensuing sugar cravings. Choosing wholewheat options will also provide your body with essential micronutrients.

White flour contains much less fibre. This means it is processed much more quickly by the body. This can create substantial blood sugar spikes, increasing the risk of sudden hunger, sugar cravings and insulin resistance.
White flour has been found to promote 15 different types of "bad" gut health bacteria, leaving you at risk of poor mental and physical health.
Processing white bread actually depletes the body of its' essential nutrients, rather than replenishing. This makes it an "anti-nutrient" and increases the toxic load upon the body.

Obviously none of this is printed on the label. Making informed choices will help you to regain control of your health. We are a nation who are getting fatter and sicker, this is not down to the individual. Food companies and advertising campaigns use neuroscience which makes us believe we are making the right choices. We are then left feeling confused and broken when our bodies start to fail.

If you need support with your weight, gut health or hormonal imbalance, get in touch for a free thirty minute consultation.

www.gbatherapy.com

GBA Therapy