Koru Natural Health

15/04/2025

A new study shows that daily probiotics can significantly reduce negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and fatigue in healthy adults.

15/04/2025

Research just proved that nonstick pans release toxic particles — and companies lied and covered up the impact they have.

A new study warns that even a minor scratch on a nonstick pan can release millions of microplastics and toxic "forever chemicals" into food.

Researchers in Australia found that damage to Teflon-coated cookware can cause an explosion of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), which have been linked to serious health risks, including cancer, infertility, and developmental disorders.

These chemicals, designed to resist heat and stains, are nearly impossible to break down and have been detected in 99% of Americans' bloodstreams. With no strict federal regulations limiting PFAS exposure in cookware, experts advise avoiding nonstick pans altogether.

PFAS contamination is widespread, extending beyond kitchenware to clothing, bedding, and baby products. Scientists warn that these chemicals can linger in the body for years, increasing long-term health risks. Some states have begun banning PFAS in consumer products, but many Americans may find it difficult to completely avoid exposure.

Until safer alternatives become more accessible, researchers recommend using stainless steel or cast-iron cookware to minimize risks.

see the paper https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972205392X

04/04/2025

News and features about alternative health therapies proven to work by science

19/03/2025

What happens to your body when you stop eating sugar — A timeline

Within the first hour, your blood sugar levels begin to stabilize as the glucose from your last meal starts to be metabolized.

Insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar, works to ensure that glucose is either used for immediate energy or stored for later use.

Without the influx of sugar, your body relies on the remaining glucose and glycogen stores for energy. This stabilization helps prevent the rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar that can lead to mood swings, fatigue, and cravings. Within one day of cutting out sugar, your liver starts to break down glycogen into glucose to maintain blood sugar levels.

This process, called glycogenolysis, ensures a steady supply of energy despite the absence of dietary sugar. You might begin to experience mild withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and fatigue as your body starts to adapt to the lack of sugar.

These symptoms are due to the sudden decrease in dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter associated with the brain's reward and pleasure centers, which sugar consumption often spikes. After two days, your body begins to enter a state of ketosis, a metabolic process where the body burns stored fats for energy in the absence of sufficient glucose. Ketones, which are byproducts of fat metabolism, become the primary energy source for your body and brain. This transition can lead to an increase in energy levels and mental clarity, though some people may experience what's known as the "keto flu"—a collection of symptoms including nausea, headaches, and dizziness as the body adapts to burning fat instead of sugar. These symptoms are generally temporary and can be mitigated by staying hydrated and replenishing electrolytes. By the end of the first week without sugar, your taste preferences may start to change. Foods that once seemed bland might now taste more flavorful as your taste buds become more sensitive to the natural sweetness in fruits and vegetables. This heightened sensitivity can help reduce cravings for sugary foods. Your body continues to produce ketones, and as it becomes more efficient at using fat for fuel, you may notice a reduction in body fat and improved metabolic health. Insulin sensitivity improves, meaning your body becomes more effective at utilizing glucose, reducing the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Around two weeks into your sugar-free journey, your energy levels stabilize, and you may find yourself experiencing fewer energy slumps throughout the day. This is because your body no longer relies on the quick but short-lived energy boost from sugar, instead using the more stable energy provided by fats and proteins. The reduction in sugar intake also decreases inflammation in the body, which can lead to improvements in skin health, reduced joint pain, and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers. The absence of sugar helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which is crucial for digestion, immune function, and overall health. After a month without sugar, the benefits become even more pronounced. Your body’s insulin sensitivity continues to improve, and you may notice significant weight loss, particularly around the abdominal area.

This reduction in visceral fat, the fat that surrounds internal organs, decreases the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Your liver function improves as it no longer has to process excessive amounts of fructose, which can lead to fatty liver disease if consumed in large amounts over time.

Mental clarity and cognitive function also benefit from the reduced sugar intake, as the brain operates more efficiently on a stable supply of energy from fats and proteins. In the long term, maintaining a sugar-free diet can lead to a more balanced mood, reduced anxiety and depression, and improved overall mental health. The reduction in systemic inflammation contributes to better heart health, lower blood pressure, and a stronger immune system. By eliminating sugar, you are also less likely to develop dental issues such as cavities and gum disease, as sugar is a primary food source for the harmful bacteria in your mouth.

learn more https://www.health.com/nutrition/what-happens-when-you-stop-eating-sugar

15/03/2025

Thanks to our friends at WithYou in the Borders there is a new 10 week block starting a week today at The Focus Centre Galashiels. This is the third block of this popular class; it's free to access for anyone who is in recovery from substance use or mental ill health or supporting someone who is. Please use the link below to book a space
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TUWqxDsFK0uOTi-It5T_QIOZkfrACoJJkiPx6P6VVjhURU9ZMDMxTFRVSERRRDZWOUZQTzdZRU5YMS4u&origin=QRCode

15/03/2025

13/03/2025

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06/03/2025

“"The advice that Emilia gave me about better nourishing my body with food has been enormously beneficial. I have made many of the adjustments to my diet that were suggested and I felt better for it immediately. It was a real joy to work with Emilia on improving my nutrition - she has a warm and r...

26/02/2025

25/02/2025

On my own personal journey, I've experienced the healing power that drawing, painting and creating has had on my mental health.

Art can anchor us in the present moment, a powerful tool for enhancing mindfulness. When we create, we can immerse ourselves into a state of flow and peace.

When we focus on the textures and colours in front of us we are concentrating, and this naturally quietens our mind.

I’ve found that by engaging with art regularly, we can reach a place of peace, over and over again.

Sounds idyllic? Click to connect with me on messenger, and perhaps book a session 🩷

Could you perhaps share this post? I'd be very grateful 😍

18/02/2025

Insulin resistance is the hidden epidemic driving muscle loss, metabolic dysfunction, and accelerated aging.

More than 90% of people with insulin resistance have no idea they have it. It’s a silent disruptor, contributing to sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), inflammation, weight gain, and a cascade of chronic diseases—including heart disease, dementia, and type 2 diabetes.

The average American now consumes over 150 pounds of sugar and 130 pounds of flour per year, with 60% of daily calories coming from ultra-processed foods. This metabolic disaster isn’t just affecting adults—kids as young as three years old are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The fix is to become insulin-sensitive.

Food is the most powerful tool to reverse insulin resistance. The Pegan Diet—rich in whole, nutrient-dense, and blood sugar-balancing foods—restores insulin sensitivity and optimizes metabolism.

Metabolic health is longevity. The sooner you take control, the better your future will be.

06/02/2025

02/02/2025

Accountability in the form of an apology and grace in the form of forgiveness are elemental to recovering after a conflict. But language has limits.

You and your partner will need to take a bit of risk and reengage with each other. You need to work together to rebuild the cushion of positivity that is eroded by conflict.

This is not about groveling. This is about trusting that part of how hurt eases is by remembering that your partner is more than their frustration action or hurtful words. And it is precisely a positive experience that will give you that felt sense. Positive experiences weave the conflict into the larger tapestry of your relationship.

Here are 5 reminders to support you and your partner as you reconnect post-conflict:

1. Consider a solo reset. Stepping away from each other for a bit, when done intentionally, reflects your desire to reconnect, not isolate. Try: “I’m going to workout / rest / distract SO THAT I can regulate my body and get myself ready to reconnect with you. Can we do something together in an hour?”
2. Be cautious about humor. Jokes are deeply contextual, and everyone’s skin a little thin right now.
3. Opt for lower risk / higher reward avenues to connection— a walk, a show, a dance party. Although a part of your craves assurance that everything is OK and wants to dive into the intimacy deep end, slow and steady is generally less shocking to our systems.
4. Makeup s*x is cool in theory, but it only works if/when BOTH of you are ready for it. Reconnection certainly requires some amount of emotional risk, but you both get to titrate the amount. What about a makeup makeout or a makeup massage?
5. Agree not to return to the topic or process of the conflict until you’ve created some distance and built up some positivity. Otherwise what is meant to be reflection is going to become another conflict!

Note: In Friday’s post, I’ll offer you 4 questions designed to guide your post-conflict reflection.

17/01/2025

Still places available. No diagnosis required👇

17/01/2025

Drop a ❤️ below if this made you reflect today

A perspective from 1903, over 100 years ago—do you think we should be focusing more on preventing disease rather than just treating it?

13/01/2025

Your resistance didn’t come out of thin air.

When you freeze up, it’s not an inherent flaw.

They’re coping mechanisms. Learned responses.

They’re your body trying to keep you safe and connected in the best it way knows how, and it’s often an old pattern that could use some updating.

We tend toward shame when we notice the freeze or resistance. We get frustrated when we can’t let go, perform, open up, or just do the thing.
And it doesn’t help.

What can help is getting curious about the freeze, about the deeper resistance.
It’s getting in touch with the part that’s protecting and resisting, and finding out what it’s afraid of.
It’s gently noticing the tension and allowing it; validating & appreciating it.
Then approaching it with compassionate curiosity; what are you afraid of? What pain are you still holding on to?

It’s asking that part gently, “What would you need to feel safe right now?
What do you need to hear?
To feel?
I see you, and you’re safe now.”

There’s often a tender part of the Self hidden away because it wasn’t honored; it wasn’t allowed. It wasn’t felt, processed, soothed, and validated.

But that’s the beauty of adulthood.
We can learn how to give that compassion, tenderness, understanding, and care to the younger parts of our Self that didn’t get them when we needed it.
We can help those parts of the Self mature by being the one who shows up.

You’re here now, and you’re doing it.
And that’s what matters most.

If this is where you are right now - working on navigating stuckness & resistance while connecting more deeply with yourself - and you’re looking for a support in this process, the 6 month Group Program begins this Tuesday, July 16th.

If you're working through this, the Cycle Breakers program begins THIS Wednesday, January 15th.
This is a year long program for those committed and dedicated to changing old patterns. To bringing their patterns to light and slowly and intentionally meeting themselves with more safety, generosity, compassion, and accountability as they begin to break old cycles and patterns of relating to themselves, others and the world. And it's done in small, supportive, heart-centered community.

More info & registration at the link below - 1 spot in each cohort left!

https://theeqschool.co/cycle-breakers