Bodymapfh

02/09/2025

Everything is connected to everything!

A client came to see me with a frustrating, angry, itchy rash on her shin, buttock and one hip, that wouldn't resolve after a couple months.

She was also tired all the time, getting random itching ( other than the rash areas) and experienced bloating, gas and issues with her bowels.
After a deep dive into her health history, I discovered that she'd had significant use of anti inflammatory medications ( from a back issue & surgery). She'd also experienced ongoing chronic high stress over previous years.

There is always more at play behind what you can obviously "see". You can't look at a problem in isolation.

The ongoing use of this medication and chronic stress had upset the apple cart with the health of her gut.

This resulted in her gut becoming " leaky" ( where little gaps open up in the gut lining, allowing bits of undigested food, toxins and bacteria into the bloodstream), further sparking her immune system, increasing chronic inflammation and in turn triggering the skin rashes.

Long story short, with a bit of functional health magic, we restored balance back to her body, her gut health returned and her rashes completely resolved!

See how everything is connected?
A rash is not just a rash, there is always more and a " why"! It just takes a little detective work to piece the puzzle together!

( Pics show the healing from the inside out ! - top left and then clockwise)

29/08/2025

What actually helps us protect and sustain gut health?

It’s not rocket science, but it does take a little consistency. Don’t overthink it. Start small, make one or two changes, and build from there.

Polyphenols:
Polyphenols keep your gut bugs thriving, reducing chronic inflammation and boosting immunity.
Berries – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
Dark chocolate (70%+)
Herbs and spices – turmeric, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, cloves
Olives & extra virgin olive oil
Green tea & matcha
Coffee (Yep, but not 50 cups!)

Fibre:
Fibre is crucial, but increase it slowly to avoid bloating ( can worsen symptoms if you have existing gut issues )
Soluble fibre (soothes, feeds microbes): oats, apples, pears, flax, chia, beans, lentils
Insoluble fibre (keeps things moving): whole grains, nuts, seeds, carrots, broccoli, greens
Prebiotic fibre (superfood for microbes): garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, green bananas, Jerusalem artichokes

Probiotics:
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, miso, kombucha bring in more good guys. Though, if your gut’s already unhappy, they might stir things up.

Rest & Stress Management:
Chronic stress is a gut saboteur. When calm, digestion, nutrient absorption, and poo-timing (motility) all improve.
Go barefoot in the green, deep breathing, daily movement
20 mins of morning sun (vitamin D also supports the body clock and immunity)
Vagus nerve care: hum, sing, or gargle, vagal exercises
Schedule short “me time” breaks – alarms help!

Hydration:
Support absorption with a pinch of Himalayan salt or squeeze of lemon/lime. Avoid at mealtimes to keep stomach acid strong.

A little proactivity goes a very long way. Love your gut, and it will love you back with better health, energy, and longevity!

27/08/2025

How do you know when your gut is trying to tell you it's not happy?

Sometimes you don’t know. Your gut can be quietly plotting mischievous stuff in the background, and you’re none the wiser.

But more often than not, it gives you some pretty clear symptomatic whispers.

Obvious ones: bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, tummy cramps or pain.

Sneaky ones: fatigue, skin breakouts or rashy things, anxiety, low mood, allergies, brain fog, hormonal upsets.

The sneakier silent ones: You think you’re fine, but subtle things like sugar cravings, weird mood dips, or always catching colds can actually be whispers from your gut.

Listen and tune into your curiosity, your "gut feeling" ( pun intended! 🤣 ) is often bang on!

25/08/2025

I’m like that embarrassing cousin. I talk about poo, burping and farting. It’s my passion in life!

I’m glad I grew up with a brother and ended up having a family also full of testosterone. I embrace the cringe!

Yep people have visibly cringed when I talk about poo. Giggled when I ask do you fart or burp a lot?

The thing is, you can’t sugar coat this **it. It is real, it’s part of everyday life and everyday health ( if our health ducks are in a row and things are working as they should)!

If they’re not, then you literally could be in for a world full of **ap!

Chronic digestive issues are about as much fun as walking backwards up a very steep hill!

My goal as a Gut Health Warrior is to cut through the noise, by being me, not squeakily polished ( that's over rated! 🤣 ). I will offer you my honesty, support, knowledge and simple tools, so you can empower yourself out the digestive **ht hole you are currently drowning in.

If you have chronic digestive issues and would like to learn how to get your awesome back, I would love to help. ❤️

01/07/2025

Bringing the gut love isn’t a “nice to have” in the Peri/Menopause zone, it’s a need to have!

If you’re currently living it and all the joys it brings 😝, but also are feeling more bloated, more reactive to food, more foggy or anxious you are not imagining it!

Hormones and gut health are intricately connected, and during peri/menopause, it’s all changing, daily 😩 :

Oestrogen levels dip. This can mess with your gut bug population growth and diversity ( they need each other!)

Progesterone levels dip, the calming one, which can mean less natural anti-inflammatory support.

Sensitivity to stress increases - affecting digestions, motility of food through the gut and can impact the health of your gut lining.

Histamine sensitivity, bloating, foods not agreeing with you, toilets troubles, yep, they can all rear their ugly heads, or worsen.

Your gut isn’t just about digesting food. Everything is so connected and it impacts mood, energy, immunity, and hormones……

“Changes in the gut microbiota composition have been observed during the menopausal transition, and these alterations are associated with metabolic and inflammatory changes.”
— Menopause, gut microbiota and health in aging women. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021.

If you’re in the zone, more than ever, it’s time to support your tummy health.
It could be the missing piece of your peri/menopause puzzle! ❤️

09/06/2025

Our gut is home to trillions of gut bugs. Some of them make B vitamins, clever little guys!

If you have chronic digestive issues and your gut fam isn't happy, it can result in deficiency in these B vitamins or see them not being absorbed properly.

We also blow through our B's in times of ongoing stress!

If you are lacking in B's this can result in the foggiest of brain fog, knackeredness ( yes this is a word!), feeling flat or anxious, increased digestive symptoms, tingling or pins and needles and disrupted hormones or periods.

These cool little vitamins are vital for us as midlife women to maintain our awesome!

I have a methylated (activated) B complex in my personal toolbox to keep me feeling dangerous ( important to take B's in methylated form if you have methylation issues, take with food and start low and slow)! ❤️

08/06/2025

Too busy to get sick? IKYK!
The juggle is all to real, add in a lurgy and the balls tumble down!

I can give you the knowledge and tools to keep your immune system bulletproof and the balls in the air, in wintery times and all the others!

💥 2 days until my online Immune health 101 seminar! 💥
Join me from the comfort of your couch! Registration link is in comments!

04/06/2025

When I chat about immunity to people they will often say:
" Oh I don't get sick".
Unfortunately, a common misconception that bug fighting is the only thing that the immune system does.

It is soooooo much more awesomer!

The immune system also:

💥 Helps support our mood and brain health
💥 Influences our hormones production and sensitivity
💥 Searches our body for rogue, damaged and cancerous cells
💥 Cleans up the damaged stuff - old cells, toxins, the bad guys
💥 Communicates with our gut. 70-80% of our immune cells are in our gut!
💥 Helps ensure a calm response to allergens and threats, responding to " real"
not perceived ones.
💥 Keeps chronic inflammation at bay

We don’t want our immune systems too weak or over reacting to everything.
It needs balance, so it doesn't freak out, becoming confused, leading to further symptoms, " dis-ease" in the body and autoimmunity.

Join me on June 11th at 7.30 (on Zoom), from the comfort of your couch and I'll take you on a fun journey about your immune system and how you can harness it's powers to keep the balance and you happy and healthy, not only in winter, but all year round! ❤️

Click on the below link to book your spot. Hope to see you in the zoom room!

Learn how to balance and strengthen your immune system with doable tips and tricks to keep the nasties away and your health bulletproof!

26/05/2025

Your gut has a massive impact on your immune system. True story!

About 70% of your immune system cells live in your gut. So if your gut is out of whack it’s almost a given that your immune system is too.

When your gut bug family is not happy, or your gut lining angry or “ leaky” ( allowing toxins, food and bacteria into your blood stream - through gaps in your gut lining) your immune system goes into red alert looking for the bad guys.

This can see you experiencing symptoms like hayfever , allergies, not tolerating foods, skin issues ( think eczema, dermatitis, rosacea or psoriasis flares), fatigue, brain fog and autoimmunity ( when your body attacks itself) - like Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Hashimoto’s or Graves ( thyroid), Crohn’s, Coeliac.

Working on your gut to keep it happy and healthy will have a huge impact on keeping your immune system healthy and balanced! 💥

Join me for a fun evening chat, empowering you with simple tips and tricks on how to do this. You can register at the below!

https://lnkd.in/gWRiEX2H

23/05/2025

With cold weather creeping in here in NZ, we’re all on red alert for the sniffles, sneezes, and lay me out cold, bugs.

But, your imm*ne system isn’t just there to battle colds – it’s your body’s ultimate defender, protector, and peacekeeper.

Keeping it balanced (not just “boosted”) is the secret to feeling well, not just in winter, but all year round!

Join me for a fun, down to earth talk on all things immunetee (😉) :

What the imm*ne system actually is and what it does for us
Why balance matters
Easy, everyday tools and tricks to keep your imm*ne system strong & steady
Plus a few myths busted along the way

You can book with the below link, see you there!

https://lnkd.in/gTMmrBfi

19/05/2025

My fav thing to keep the spring in my step is Fulvic Minerals.
Great for the approach of winter too and all the lurgies circulating!

Fulvic minerals come from soil, peat and broken down plant stuff.
I’ve been known to eat dirt as a smaller person, that’s one way of getting them 🤣 Not really my thing now though! I take mine in a daily tonic.

Here’s why they’re awesome for the body:

✅Chocka full of trace minerals (approx 70-80)
✅Keep energy balanced ( no 3pm crash !)
✅Support immune balance and gut health
✅Help calm down chronic inflammation
✅Help your body process toxins and waste

What’s not to love in this powerful stuff!

I use “Pure Fulvic” tonic which is extracted from a peat seam here in NZ, but there are others out there.

If you’re looking for a boost, this is def worth a crack! ( check with your healthcare practitioner first though to ensure it isn’t contraindicated for you). ❤️

07/04/2025

🌟 What are you up to this weekend?

Come and say hi to our incredible team at the Home & Lifestyle Show in Pukekohe and experience their expertise firsthand!

We’re excited to be there on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM, offering a range of complimentary services (10 – 15 minutes).  

Here’s our weekend program:

Saturday:
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Tongue and Pulse Check with Acupuncturist Elaine Rudkin

9:30 AM – 2:00 PM: Relaxing Sitting Massage with Allison Millen

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Nervous System Reset & Gut Health Check with Functional Health Coach Emma McCann - that’s me!! 🤪

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Chiropractic Spinal Assessment with Dr. Georgia Banks, Dr Kristina

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Hyperbaric Oxygen Session with Dr. Dean Carter
Sunday:

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Nervous System Reset & Gut Health Check with Functional Health Coach Emma McCann me again! 🙌

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Chiropractic Spinal Assessment with Dr. Georgia Banks

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM: Hyperbaric Oxygen Session with Dr. Dean Carter

We’d love for you to bring your family and friends along and enjoy this fantastic event! 🎉

More info about the show here: https://franklinhomeshow.co.nz/

Hope to see you there!