Dooleys Nutrition Ards

03/09/2025

What do hormones do?

Hormones are chemical messengers that affect and manage hundreds of bodily processes.

A hormone will only act on a part of your body if it “fits” — if the cells in the target tissue have receptors that receive the message of the hormone.

Think of a hormone as a key and the cells of its target tissue, such as an organ or fat tissue, as specially shaped locks. If the hormone fits the lock (receptor) on the cell wall, then it’ll work; the hormone will deliver a message that causes the target site to react.

Your body uses hormones for two types of communication:

1/ between two endocrine glands: one gland releases a hormone, which stimulates another gland to change the levels of hormones that it’s releasing.
An example of this is the communication between your pituitary gland and thyroid. Your pituitary gland releases TSH, which triggers your thyroid gland to release its hormones, which then affect various aspects of your body.

2/ between an endocrine gland and a target organ. An example of this is when your pancreas releases insulin, which then acts on your muscles and liver to help process glucose.

Diagram: kids.frontiersin.org
Adapted from:my.clevelandclinic.org

02/09/2025

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues.

These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.

Hormones and most of the tissues (mainly glands) that create and release them make up your endocrine system.

Hormones control many different bodily processes, including:

1/ blood pressure and blood sugar regulation,
2/ fluid and electrolyte balance
3/ body temperature.
4/ growth and development.
5/ sexual function.
6/ reproduction.
7/ sleep-wake cycle.
8/ mood

Minor changes in hormone levels can cause significant changes to your body and lead to certain conditions that require medical treatment.

Adapted from: my.clevelandclinic.org

01/09/2025

Soft, chewy, and naturally sweetened with banana and maple syrup, these banana chia oat cookies are an easy, healthy breakfast or snack made in one bowl.

1/ Mash one ripe banana until mostly smooth.
2/ Add oats, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, cinnamon, and salt.
3/ Mix well. Stir in any extras like nuts or coconut if using.
4/ Line a sheet with parchment paper, then use a spoon to portion the dough. Flatten slightly with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
5/ Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 mins until set and just golden on the bottom.

Cool. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before storing.

By www.wearerecipes.com

31/08/2025

Regular exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and wellbeing. Among various forms of physical activity, walking stands out for its accessibility and a range of scientifically supported benefits. Just 30 minutes of walking a day can significantly lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, and simultaneously boost mental health.

Great advice as always by ParthaNandi MD!

30/08/2025

OCD

Some recent studies have found that people with OCD often have less diversity in their gut bacteria.

> reduced "good" bacteria like Oscillospira, Odoribacter, and Anaerostipes, causing increased inflammation which isn't good for mental health.

> probiotic strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei have shown promise in easing OCD symptoms in animal studies.

Improving your gut health with probiotics could be helpful, though more research is needed to confirm their effects in humans.

https://gut.bmj.com/content/72/Suppl_1/A135.1?fbclid=IwY2xjawE9OehleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ5ST11KF5njZ9p1Nh2JwyrPvPeQodNNojgfLNosooO90DsFY1ZSvgt0Kw_aem_3NABnECjpBETN8V-FcFh0w

29/08/2025

OCD symptoms vary widely from person to person.
OCD can be divided into different types based on the nature of the symptoms experienced:

1/ Contamination obsessions with cleaning compulsions
If you are affected by this symptom subtype, you will usually focus on feelings of discomfort associated with contamination. You may wash or clean excessively to reduce these feelings of distress.

2/ Harm obsessions with checking compulsions
If you experience this symptom subtype, you will often have intense thoughts related to possible harm to yourself or others. You use checking rituals to relieve your distress.

For example, you might imagine your house burning down, then repeatedly drive by your house to make sure that there is no fire. Or, you may feel that by simply thinking about a disastrous event, you are increasing the likelihood of such an event actually happening.

3/ Obsessions without compulsions
This symptom subtype often relates to unwanted obsessions surrounding sexual, religious, or aggressive themes. For example, you could experience intrusive thoughts that you will attack someone.

4/ Symmetry obsessions with ordering compulsions
When experiencing this subtype, you feel a strong need to arrange and rearrange objects until they are "just right." For example, you might feel the need to constantly arrange your shirts so that they are ordered precisely by colour.

5/ Hoarding
Hoarding is now recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the DSM-5. Hoarding involves the collection of items that are judged to be of limited value by others, such as old magazines, clothes, receipts, junk mail, notes, or containers. Often your living space becomes so consumed with clutter that it becomes impossible to live in.

Adapted from www.verywellmind.com

28/08/2025

What is Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

> mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

> can affect men, women and children. People can start having symptoms from as early as 6 years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood.

If you have OCD, you'll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours:

1/ an obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.

2/ a compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.
For example, someone with an obsessive fear of being burgled may feel they need to check all the windows and doors are locked several times before they can leave their house.

Women can sometimes have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born. Obsessions may include worrying about harming the baby or not sterilising feeding bottles properly. Compulsions could be things such as repeatedly checking the baby is breathing, and intrusive, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, images or urges. These can cause anxiety and lead to repetitive behaviours.

If you keep getting these thoughts and they have an effect on your daily life, speak to your GP or health visitor.

27/08/2025

Different Coloured Phlegm

1/ Coughing up clear phlegm => your body is trying to flush out pollen, pet dander or other allergens. However, in some cases, it could indicate a more serious condition, such as: Viral bronchitis or pneumonia.

2/ Coughing up yellow or green phlegm => your body is fighting off some sort of infection. People often develop yellow phlegm in the early stages, and it turns green the longer the infection lingers. Possible health conditions related to coughing up yellow or green phlegm include: Sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, or cystic fibrosis.

3/ Coughing up white phlegm can mean a few different things, including: GERD, COPD, viral bronchitis, or congestive heart failure. (If you develop heart failure symptoms, like shortness of breath, fatigue or leg weakness, call a healthcare provider immediately.)

4/ Coughing up black phlegm may be a sign of: smoking, breathing in coal dust or other dark materials or toxins, or exophiala dermatitidi (fungal infection)

5/ Coughing up brown phlegm or phlegm with brown spots usually indicates old blood. Common related conditions include: bacterial bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, lung abscess or breathing in dust or other brown materials or toxins.

6/ Coughing up bloody, red or pink phlegm indicates a more serious issue including:
pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure. (Symptoms include pink, frothy phlegm, chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.), tuberculosis, or lung cancer.

If you cough up blood without phlegm, call a healthcare provider immediately or head to your nearest emergency room.

26/08/2025

Coughing up Phlegm?

Coughing up phlegm is a symptom of infections like the flu and common cold.

Phlegm is a specific type of mucus that originates in your lungs and throat - it’s slightly thicker than that produced in your nose and sinuses.

Coughing up phlegm isn’t generally a cause for concern - it helps clear irritants and infections from your lungs.

BUT if you cough up phlegm when you’re not feeling sick, it could mean you have an underlying health condition.

Factors that cause coughing up phlegm include infections, allergies, asthma, and GERD.

Certain health conditions, environmental factors and lifestyle factors can all contribute to coughing up phlegm.

Adapted from www.my.clevelandclinic.org

26/08/2025

Tune in at 4pm today where we will be going live with Mays Al Ali to discuss mould toxicity and the Open Day that she is speaking at on Saturday 6th September. Follow us on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/collegeofnaturopathicmedicine/

25/08/2025

How to Clear Mucus and Phlegm from your throat and chest

> drink plenty of water

> use a humidifier

> add eucalyptus oil to a diffuser or a warm bath

> gargle with salt water

> practice deep breathing exercises

> take the following supplements to support overall respiratory health.
1/ N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
2/ probiotics

24/08/2025

Kombucha Fermented Cheesecake

Gluten and Dairy Free!!

Kombucha is a fermented drink made from tea that is well known for its gut-healing, immune boosting and energy promoting properties. Fermented foods and drinks provide a source of live probiotics; these are beneficial microorganisms that support digestion and balance gut bacteria.

Kombucha-Fermented Cheesecake Print Recipe Kombucha-Fermented Cheesecake I created this lovely vegan cheesecake for my friends at Real Kombucha who make beautiful kombuchas with single variety teas such Jasmine, Dragon Well and Darjeeling. You can have a lot of fun with different flavours of kombuch...