Virginia Nutritional Therapy, Active Body Clinic, Port Laoise (2026)

Virginia Ziulu DipNT mNTOI

I am passionate about good Food and Nutrition and I strongly believe that every person is unique and therefore has different dietary requirements. My aim is to provide you with the best possible tools and knowledge in order to improve your quality of life. I offer 1:1 private consultations in the Active Body Clinic, Portlaoise and Roches in Dublin. Areas of expertise: Lipedema and Lymphedema,Thyroid dysfunctions,Menstrual irregularities:Endometriosis, Fibroids, PCOS, Peri-Menopause, Menopause. Men's Wellness support: Sport and athletic performance

Fatigue, Sleep disturbances,Immune health. Healthy weight management support: Mindset coaching, Food education. Digestive wellbeing, Sleep fundamentals. Stress and lifestyle coaching, lifestyle support tools.

25/03/2026

Tirzepatide and swelling

90% of Lipedema patients report a significant improvement in swelling and pain during the day while on Tirzapatide. Then...they come off it pre surgery and their legs start to swell up again and the pain comes back ....let me explain...

👉 Tirzepatide alone isn't going to fix the fundamental issue causing Lipedema swelling and pain⏩fibrosis. Tirzepatide is a messenger and it helps to calm down things while you get to work on improving the system. It reduces the inflammatory chemicals involved in Lipedema but doesn't fix the root cause of why this is happening. So the minute you stop it swelling will come back. That is pretty normal.

👉Digestion has a fundamental part to play in terms of blood vessels health as that's how nutrients are absorbed and carried around the body!! The liver and gallbladder are 2 fundamental organs to keep in top shape. When you take a higher dosage of tirzepatide you are bringing these 2 organs into quite significant stress and potentially increasing inflammation in other areas of the body.

This is WHY keeping the dose low with minimal side effects will make Tirzepatide anti inflammatory effect even more beneficial. You need to address your metabolic health before anything significant will ever change even with Tirzepatide. This is crucial.

A particular thanks to the research work of .ssa_serena_michelini and Sandro Michelini alongside which will continue to shape future better care for Lipedema patients.

Did you know this?

22/03/2026

Progesterone sensitivity

You have asked and I answered. Probably one of the most common questions I get asked amongst my Lipedema clients and many women with ADHD( diagnosed and undiagnosed).

What you need to know?

1️⃣You can still take progesterone and finding the right administration method/ dosage and timing is crucial. Don't give up on progesterone as it's SO important for us.

2️⃣Check your genes( particularly MTHFR, COMT and MAO) . These genes are all "actionable" which means you can do something about it. I run this test in my clinic regularly to efficiently maximize personalized nutrient therapy.

3️⃣Work on cortisol regulation aka nervous system regulation. This is not just taking a couple of deep breaths a day but it starts the minute you wake up, to what you put into your mouth and how you put it in and how you go about your day before bed. Circadian rhythm regulation.

Have you heard these before?

20/03/2026

Lipedema tissue can change.

This change can happen without surgery: Yes
Is it the same change as surgery: No

Let's clarify a few things that often get confused:

1️⃣Conservative methods for Lipedema can make a huge impact on pain levels, size, shape and texture of the skin. They can soften the fibrosis allowing more breathing space and allowing muscles to function better too.Small fibrosis can be eliminated.

➡️ It has its limitations as it doesn't remove the fibrotic nodules completely. Especially if these nodules are there for a long time.

2️⃣Lipedema reduction surgery allows the removal of deeper and larger fibrotic nodules and depending on the volume a large part will be permanently removed.

➡️Lipedema does not go away and will still be present and has the potential of regrowth if not managed correctly as the fibrotic tissue can regrow over time. Surgery is a reset button, but what happens next is crucial.

✋It is important to consider that lipedema reduction surgery is not a cure for Lipedema as it hasn't changed anything about the condition itself.

What we really work on in my clinic is:

🟠 Changing the inflammatory pathways that drive Lipedema inflammation metabolically and hormonally. Taking each individual case into consideration. Change is possible at any age. But getting to work on it early in life is the key.

🟠We look at exposure to toxins, presence of toxins in the body in various forms and the composition of your gut microbiome which is a key player in all inflammatory conditions.

🟠We address hormonal imbalances,nutritional deficiencies and the impact your genetics have on these. Supporting your genetics and applying dietary and lifestyle changes in support of positive outcomes.

There is a lot you can do and a lot that can be improved. We have many tools we can use now in Lipedema care including GLP*. We just need to optimize these tools to have the best outcomes which is to improve our quality of life and live our life to the fullest That is the end goal we all want.

What is your end goal with Lipedema👇

15/03/2026

The one nutrient i see chronically low in 90% of my Lipedema and hEDS clients in clinic....

👉Folate
I barely see adequate serum Folate levels among my Lipedema clients. It is a consistent deficiency I have seen in the clinic for many years.

Before we go to the WHY let me explain how Folate is crucially linked with Adipose tissue disorders.

1️⃣Folate( B9) is a key regulator of Lipid metabolism and Adipogenesis( formation of new fat cells). And deficiencies can increase Leptin levels and increase both Leptin and Insulin resistance promoting chronic inflammation.

In Lipedema I have seen this chronic deficiency been caused by 👇

👉Genetic mutation in the MTHFR gene.These mutations impair the conversion of Folate and Folic acid into its active form of methyltetrahydrofolate( 5-MTHFR). The women with these variants should NOT use the synthetic form of Folic "acid" as the body is simply not able to use this form efficiently and levels can accumulate in the body. High levels of unbound folic acid can lead to immune dysfunctions and inflammatory processes.

👉Coeliac disease, folate receptor antibodies, use of the contraceptive pill, long term use of stomach acid blockers( PPI), certain antibiotic treatments, H. Pylori infections and low stomach acid issues, chronic stress, bariatric surgery, chronic inflammatory disorders like endometriosis and adenomyosis.

🟠In clinic I assess deficiency first taking into consideration that serum levels are not "tissue" levels so they still need to be taken with a pinch of salt. I often check genetics first in most of my clients which can direct to the correct type of supplementation and absorption issues.

There are different types of supplementation that suits some and not others:

❌Folic acid. Should be avoided at all cost
👍Methylfolate. Good form of active folate but not suitable for individuals with anxiety and migraines as it acts as a neuro stimulant.
🔝FoliNIC acid. The best form which increases folate levels very fast and can cross the blood brain barrier. The ideal form for women with ADHD and autism as it supports brain function directly.

09/03/2026

🌸Progesterone Resistance

Progesterone Resistance is one of the contributing factors that leads into the development of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. It has also been linked with Lipedema development. Hence why these 2 conditions are very commonly seen in Lipedema patients too.

Key points to remember:

👉Progesterone Resistance can be treated and reversed!! NOT with progestins

👉Acting early and preventing it's dysregulation is the key. It starts in childhood

👉Progesterone is an anti proliferative and can have anti adipogenic effect

Progestins are NOT progesterone and women should not be treated with progestins at a very young age especially if they have a genetic predisposition to Lipedema or both Endometriosis&Adenomyosis.

🎗

Did you know this about Progesterone?

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Active Body Clinic
Port Laoise
R32K295

Website

http://virginiashealthcorner.ie/

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