What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 3pm Wednesday 9am - 3pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Rebelle Health, 160A King Edward Street, South, Dunedin (2025)

19/09/2025

The Hormonal Backstory of Depression and Stress
Feeling low, wired but tired, or emotionally fragile after stress?

It’s not “just in your head” — it’s in your hormones, your brain, and your nervous system.

Chronic stress activates a powerful system in your body called the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal). When it's overactive, your brain stays stuck in survival mode — pumping out cortisol and disrupting the balance of mood, memory, energy, sleep, and hormones.

In depression, we often see:

✨Elevated cortisol

✨Shrinking of mood-regulating areas like the hippocampus

✨Disruption of thyroid hormones and estrogen

✨Activated inflammation pathways

✨Impaired brain healing (BDNF, glial cells, astrocyte function)

What this means: Stress and depression are biologically connected.

Women's mental wellbeing deserves an approach that's hormone-aware, HPA-axis sensitive, and trauma-informed — because healing happens when we treat the whole system, not just the symptoms on the surface.

✨ Hormones. Mood. Metabolism. It’s all connected.

We'd love to help: click link in bio to book a consult with Dr Deborah Brunt
GP with special interests in integrative and hormonal health.

18/09/2025

The Stages of Menopause — It's Not Just Hormones

Menopause is more than hot flushes and hormone changes.
It’s a neuroendocrine transition — a midlife transition that affects your whole self, mind, body and soul.

These are 5 phases many women move through (not always in order):

1️⃣ Orientation – “What’s happening to me?”
You begin noticing changes. Confusion, curiosity, and uncertainty arise.

2️⃣ Disruption – “Everything feels off.”
Mood shifts, brain fog, burnout. Your old self no longer fits — and it’s hard.

3️⃣ Disintegration – “I don’t even recognise myself.”
An identity unraveling. Loss, grief, change and questioning take centre stage.

4️⃣ Reconstruction – “I’m starting to reclaim myself.”
You begin to rebuild. On your terms. From your truth.

5️⃣ Integration – “I feel whole again — in a new way.”
You emerge stronger, wiser, and more grounded in your power.

Ready to be supported through your next chapter?
Visit rebellehealth.com to book: a consult - link in bio.

Reference: Beyond Hormones: Reframing Menopause as a Psychological Development Stage - Kirstin Bouse

10/09/2025

Why is my body changing—and why can’t I control it?

If you feel like your shape is shifting during perimenopause or menopause, you're not imagining it. Perimenopause is like puberty, in that changes in your hormones change your body shape, composition and metabolism.

🔹 Hormonal changes (especially declining estrogen) shift fat storage toward the abdomen - both subcutaneous and visceral.
🔹 Muscle mass begins to decline, even without lifestyle changes
🔹 Poor sleep—common in menopause—disrupts appetite and metabolism, increasing cravings and fat gain

💡 These changes are normal, but not irreversible.
With the right support—like strength training, sleep repair, hormonal support and targeted nutrition—you can feel strong, clear, and back in control.

📍 Ready to work with your body, not against it? Book a consult today.

Learn more:
Lovejoy JC et al. Increased visceral fat and decreased energy expenditure during the menopausal transition. Int J Obes (2008); 32(6):949–958. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.25

09/09/2025

Feeling like you're on an emotional rollercoaster lately?

Hormonal shifts in perimenopause can impact everything from mood and motivation to identity and energy—and it’s not just “in your head.” And you don't just need to put up with it or suffer through it.

There are practices you can do to take care of yourself and effective treatment to use as you go through perimenopause.

Click link in bio to book a consult with Dr Deborah Brunt at Rebelle Health to feel supported, understood, and seen in midlife.

08/09/2025

Can Strength Training Help Menopause Symptoms?
Well actually - YES! 💪🔥⁣

A recent review of clinical trials (2015–2022) found that strength training can ease menopause symptoms and boost overall health.⁣

✨ The Benefits?
✔️ Improved leg & pelvic floor strength
✔️ Increased physical activity
✔️ Better bone density
✔️ Positive hormonal & metabolic shifts
✔️ Lower heart rate & blood pressure
✔️ Reduced hot flashes⁣

💥 How to Add Strength Training:
There’s no one-size-fits-all—**just get started with what works for you!**⁣

Try:
🏋️‍♀️ Free weights (e.g. dumbbell squats, bicep curls)
🏋️ Weight machines (e.g. leg press, chest press)
🧘‍♀️ Bodyweight exercises (e.g. squats, push-ups)
🟣 Resistance bands (e.g. banded glute bridges)
💪 Functional training (e.g. step-ups, carrying groceries)

💡 Bottom line: Strength training supports your body through menopause and beyond—choose a method you enjoy, train with a friend and build from there.

It's so satisfying to see women get stronger as the years go by. The body is so responsive to how you use it.

learn more:
Capel-Alcaraz et al. The Efficacy of Strength Exercises for Reducing the Symptoms of Menopause: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12(2):548.

07/09/2025

Lifestyle Support for Menopause

Lifestyle changes aren’t just helpful—they’re backed by science. And making them life-long habits will help your not only navigate menopause, but improve your quality of life along the way.

Here are a few key strategies proven to ease symptoms and support your long-term health in perimenopause and menopause:

•🧘‍♀️ Yoga to reduce hot flashes, improve mood, and support pelvic health
🥗 Phytoestrogen-rich foods (like soy, flax, and legumes) to support hormonal balance
🏋️‍♀️ Strength training to protect bones, build muscle, and reduce symptoms

✨ These small shifts can create big, lasting change.

Want personalised support?
📍 Book a consult—let’s help you feel strong, clear, and in control.

References:
– Cramer H et al., Yoga for menopausal symptoms, Maturitas, 2018
– Taku K et al., Soy isoflavones & hot flash reduction, Menopause, 2012
– Capel-Alcaraz AM et al., Strength training & menopause, J Clin Med, 2023

05/09/2025

Am I too young for Perimenopause??

If you're in your 40s and feeling off—you’re not imagining it.
Welcome to perimenopause!
The hormonal rollercoaster before your periods stop.

Perimenopause typically starts between ages 40–44
But for some women, it begins in their mid to late 30s 😮

It can last 4 to 10 years before you officially hit menopause (which is 12 months without a period).

Common early signs:

* Worsening or new PMS, including premenstrual headache, breast tenderness, irritability, mood changes or low mood.

* Irregular or variable cycles - your period may be normal length one cycle and then longer shorter or lighter or heavier the next

* Mood swings or anxiety - often most pronounced in the week before the period.

* Brain fog

* Sleep issues - problems going to sleep or staying asleep

* Hot flashes or night sweats

* Weight changes

🎯 You’re not too young. You’re not crazy. You’re in transition.
And support is available.

Book an appointment at Rebelle Health. We'd love to help.

04/09/2025

🧠🔥 Brain Fog, Hot Flashes & Stress: What’s the Connection in Menopause?

Many women link brain fog to hot flashes, but the science suggests a deeper story...

One study found that objectively measured hot flashes were linked to memory problems—and women only noticed 40% of their actual hot flashes!

But there’s more: Hot flashes spike cortisol, your body’s stress hormone—and higher cortisol = worse memory.

🔄 During perimenopause:

Cortisol levels rise 📈

Cognitive function dips 🧠

Estrogen, which normally buffers stress, declines 😮‍💨

Women become more sensitive to stress than men

✨ Supporting your HPA axis (stress system) can help:
🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness & movement
🥗 Balanced blood sugar
💤 Restorative sleep
🌞 Morning sunlight
💪 Strength training
💊 HRT can help too! By stabilizing estrogen, HRT may calm the HPA axis and reduce stress reactivity.

🧪 Studies show cortisol rises in late perimenopause, then settles post-menopause—so the goal is to support your body through the transition.

04/09/2025

Can Strength Training Help Menopause Symptoms? The research shows a profound YES! 💪🔥⁣

A recent review of clinical trials (2015–2022) found that strength training can ease menopause symptoms and boost overall health.⁣

✨ The Benefits?
✔️ Improved leg & pelvic floor strength
✔️ Increased physical activity
✔️ Better bone density
✔️ Positive hormonal & metabolic shifts
✔️ Lower heart rate & blood pressure
✔️ Reduced hot flashes⁣

💥 How to Add Strength Training:
There’s no one-size-fits-all—**just get started with what works for you!**⁣

Try:
🏋️‍♀️ Free weights (e.g. dumbbell squats, bicep curls)
🏋️ Weight machines (e.g. leg press, chest press)
🧘‍♀️ Bodyweight exercises (e.g. squats, push-ups)
🟣 Resistance bands (e.g. banded glute bridges)
💪 Functional training (e.g. step-ups, carrying groceries)

💡 Bottom line: Strength training supports your body through menopause and beyond—choose a style you enjoy, train with a friend and build from there.

For more info: PMID: 36675477

27/07/2025

Hormonal transitions can be tough, from the premenstrual part of your cycle, to pregnancy, post-partum or perimenopause. They can all significantly impact your emotional wellbeing including:

💥 Suddenly snapping at people you love.
😭 Crying over nothing—or everything.
😴 Exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep.
😶 Feeling not like yourself.

It's more frustrating that there are no real 'tests' to reflect the impact of these hormones on your wellbeing.

This doesn't mean you're fine though.

➡️ What you need to know:
Hormonal shifts—especially in perimenopause—can profoundly impact your mood, brain, and body. This isn’t you being “emotional” or “too sensitive.” It’s biology.

Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones—all influence your sleep, your stress response, your motivation, your resilience to life challenges.

When they’re out of sync, you feel out of sync.

But because these symptoms don’t always show up on standard blood tests and training in menopause or hormone health is limited, you may be told it’s just stress, anxiety, or “part of being a woman.”

No. You’re not imagining this. And you deserve more than dismissal.

🧠 Talk to friends/family about what’s really going on.
💪 Find a health provider that that listens, validates, and empowers you.

16/07/2025

Hormones & Brain Health: What New Research Shows 🧠✨
A new study of over 1,000 postmenopausal women found that those with longer exposure to estradiol—the main form of estrogen—had slower brain aging: This included women who had:

✅ Earlier first periods (menarche)
✅ Later menopause
✅ Longer reproductive span

These factors were linked to younger-looking brains on MRI.

What’s even more remarkable?
The women didn’t just have a younger brain snapshot at a single point in time - they also showed slower brain aging when scanned again 2 years later.
The study suggests that longer duration of estradiol exposure is neuroprotective over time.

Why This Matters:
💚Women suffer from significantly higher rates of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline than men.
💚Estradiol supports memory, learning, and brain structure, which may explain part of this difference.
💚The findings strengthen the idea of a “window of opportunity” in midlife to support brain health.

🔍 Note: Brain aging is complex—this study focused on hormonal lifespan, but lifestyle, genetics, and other factors also play a role.

Should brain health be an essential consideration in the menopause conversation? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

Study details: PMCID: PMC12099614.

15/07/2025

All foods are super—but these are extra special for peri/menopause! 🌟
When your hormones are shifting, great foods can make a world of difference.
While no single food is a magic fix, some are power houses packed with nutrients that offer needed support for common menopause and perimenopause symptoms like mood swings, hot flushes, joint aches, and low energy.

Here are 5 menopause superfoods to add to your plate as regularly as you can:

🥄 Flaxseeds – These are rich in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that may gently support hormone balance and improve heart health. Grind them im smoothies or toss on salads, chia pudding or porridge.

🥬 Spinach – Packed with magnesium & iron, helping with mood regulation, sleep, and energy—nutrients often depleted during perimenopause. Eat raw in salads or tossed through curries or casseroles.

🐟 Salmon – Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids for joint health, mood support, brain function, and reducing inflammation. Baked, pan-fried or even canned salmon can add essential omegas to your diet.

🧡 Turmeric – A natural anti-inflammatory that may help with joint pain, brain fog, and skin changes. A great addition to curries, casseroles or in a turmeric latte or chai

🍓 Berries – High in antioxidants, supporting healthy aging, brain health, and reducing oxidative stress. Add to yoghurt, smoothies or just eat fresh.

Why it matters:
Eating nutrient-dense foods is one of the easiest, most empowering ways to support your body during midlife.

Tag someone who loves trying good food! 👇

Rebelle Health

19/09/2025

18/09/2025

10/09/2025

09/09/2025

08/09/2025

07/09/2025

05/09/2025

04/09/2025

04/09/2025

27/07/2025

16/07/2025

15/07/2025

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category