The Facts About Fasting
Fasting isn’t a new concept but, in the last few years, it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity. In 2018, it was the most searched diet. Historically, it has been used spiritually and, like many other spiritual practices, it is found to hold numerous health benefits. The modern Western diet gives us accessibility to […]
Lymphatic System and Your Skin
Routes of elimination Our body has many primary routes of elimination – the gut, liver, lungs, kidneys and the lymphatics. Our primary routes of elimination are responsible for detoxifying and eliminating substances such as medications, metabolic wastes, toxins, pathogens, inflammatory mediators and excess hormones from the body. Often, due to lifestyle and environmental factors, there […]
How to Create Sustainable Change
It is the end of January. The holidays are over, there are no more Christmas leftovers in the fridge (including my famous pudding – thank goodness, I was starting to look like one!) and we have welcomed in the new year with friends or family and possibly a few too many alcoholic beverages (no judgement […]
Environmentalism – A health issue
Obesogens is a term you may have not heard before. It refers to a group of endocrine disrupting chemicals that are found abundantly in our day-to-day environment. Some are unavoidable, others we slather all over our skin at our own volition. The World Health Organization and various studies class these obesogens as chemicals that are […]
Trouble Losing Weight? Check Your Sleep!
Did you know that poor sleep significantly affects insulin activity and your resting metabolic rate? Burning the candle at both ends, tossing and turning during the night or, even worse, insomnia, can lead to weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Insomnia is the inability to sleep and there are many reasons people may suffer with […]
Alcohol – Drink healthier
Anytime is a good time to talk about healthy drinking but it is especially important as we head into Christmas and New Year celebrations. Don’t get us wrong, we are not suggesting you can’t enjoy a few beverages (naturopaths drink too!), but we want you to make informed choices and create healthier habits when it […]
Post-pill Acne
When I speak to women who are considering coming off the oral contraceptive pill (the pill), their most common questions are, ‘What if I get acne?’ and ‘What if my acne comes back?’ While these concerns largely come from females who have originally been prescribed the pill for their acne, post-pill acne can, in fact, […]
Stress
What is it, why is it bad for your health and what can you do about it I have three patients who have been on my mind a lot lately. All three have quite different stories, experiences and symptoms, but they all share one common thread that is affecting their ability to really thrive – […]
Sun Damage and SPF
Ultraviolet light Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light produced by the sun, repeated over time, eventually begins to damage the DNA of our skin cells, resulting in a loss of DNA integrity and subsequent mutations to our DNA. This means that eventually our body is unable to produce ‘normal’, healthy, proper-functioning skin cells and instead begins […]
Forgiveness & Gratitude Therapy
If you haven’t come across forgiveness and gratitude therapy before now, it might sound like an esoteric concept however it has been used for thousands of years across many religions. While it is tightly tied to spiritual practices, feelings of gratitude and continuously forgiving self and others can bring us some wonderful physical health benefits […]
Metabolic Disease and the Gut
Are you overweight? Are you struggling with high blood sugar, cholesterol or blood pressure? Do you want to avoid medication at all costs? Then please keep reading. Let us start with a definition: Metabolic syndrome is an umbrella term that includes a cluster of symptoms such as excess weight/obesity, increased blood pressure, fatty liver, high […]
Skin Health
Now that the weather has well and truly warmed up and summer is fast approaching, it is not uncommon for us to notice or complain of changes in our skin or skin condition/s. Perhaps a pre-existing skin condition has flared up or a completely new skin condition has presented, leaving you feeling frustrated and self-conscious. […]
What Does Good Digestion Look Like
Digestion begins with the thought, sight and smell of food. These senses trigger appetite and oral and gastric secretions, preparing the upper digestive tract for food. The next stage is chewing your food, breaking it down into smaller pieces and mixing it with saliva. Our saliva contains enzymes, minerals and antibacterial substances. The enzyme lipase […]
Nutrients for Mental Health
The connection between diet, nutrition and mental health conditions has come to the forefront in recent years. Nutritional neuroscience is an emerging discipline bringing to light the notion that nutritional factors are intertwined with human cognition, behaviour and emotions. While it is more widely accepted that mental health conditions are the result of biochemical imbalances […]
Healthy Detox For Your Whole Body
The liver gets a very large focus when it comes to detoxification. It is involved in 300 processes within the body so it’s important not to overloaded it with work. Fortunately, the liver is not our only organ of elimination. The skin (yes, it is an organ), digestive system, kidneys, lungs and lymph also play […]
Reduce Your Screen Time
‘A study in the journal Child Development shows night-time usage of a cell phone can increase anxiety and depression in teenagers and reduce self-esteem. This is the first study that shows a direct link between screen time and mental health.’ It is not only teenagers who are affected by the use of mobile phones. If […]
Naturally Healthy Hair
As many of you know, I am super passionate about skin health, and this passion extends to all aspects of integumentary health. The integumentary system comprises the skin and its appendages (hair, nails and exocrine glands) which are designed to protect the body from various damages caused by the outside world. When it comes to […]
Health Benefits of Sleep
If there is one thing you should focus on for your health it is sleep, yet so many of us are forgoing this most important health factor when it comes to preventing disease. Sleep problems including insomnia and a general lack of sleep are frequently experienced by people of all ages. In fact, it is […]
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is a condition of insufficient iron stores within the body. Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when the condition reaches the point that it begins to reduce the production (or number) of red blood cells (RBCs). Iron is involved in the production of RBCs and plays a vital role in helping them transport oxygen throughout […]
Ovulation and Your Health
“Did you know that being more ‘fertile’ can actually improve your health and wellbeing?” —Dr Nat Kringoudis Ovulation is a sign of health. It is how we make oestrogen and progesterone, both of which have amazing health benefits. Let’s dive right in and see what all the fuss is about! Oestrogen Oestrogen is needed to […]
Homebirth – Meeting our Baby
The Birth of William Ian Raven – Part Two It’s time to grab a cuppa because this one is long – just like my labour! This is the second part of my homebirth story. Part one was all about choosing to birth at home and some of the challenges we experienced after making this decision […]
Kids’ Health
We all want the best for our children and a large factor of a child’s health rests in what goes into their bodies. Children have a great need for quality nutrition as their bodies are growing rapidly. Lack of proper intake of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals equals lack of physical growth and neuronal development. Laying […]
Homebirth – Our Story
The Birth of William Ian Raven – Part One Sharing our birth story is a pretty big deal to me. It was hands down the most incredible yet challenging thing I have ever done. Lachlan and I have openly shared our choices so many of you will already know we decided to birth at home. […]
Weight loss – More than just diet and exercise
Are you carrying a bit (or maybe a lot) of extra weight that you just can’t shift? Were you able to lose weight easily in the past through dieting and exercise but that is no longer working for you? I have struggled with weight issues since I was child so I know what it is […]
Mastitis – natural suggestions when breastfeeding
Mastitis is the common infection many women suffer from during their breastfeeding journey. Symptoms of mastitis include breast tenderness, malaise, redness on the breast skin, breast pain, breast rash and a fever. Mastitis is something I have helped many new mums with in clinic. Many people don’t know how a naturopath can help them with […]
The Gluten Debate
Gluten avoidance has been a contentious subject, becoming the butt of many jokes. However, for many, the issues caused by gluten and wheat products are laughing matter. Unfortunately, many people feel the pressure to succumb to eating wheat products out of fear of being perceived as annoying or just appearing to be fussy with their […]
Wholefoods and Gut Health
Wholefoods in general are the most important and healthiest fuel for your microbiome. Ensuring you are eating enough fibre is an essential part of managing a lot of gut issues. It will also help you to promote a healthy gut long term. The recommendation is to eat at least 30 g of fibre daily. However, […]
Understanding Stress
Stress is defined as any disturbance or demand placed on the body to which the body must adjust or adapt, for example, temperature changes, toxic load, microorganism infection, physical trauma, emotional reactions etc. The relationship between stress and fatigue often occurs along a continuum. In 1935, endocrinologist Hans Selye developed a theory of stress which […]
What is Endometriosis
More and more women are presenting with endometriosis in clinic. Statistically, endometriosis is thought to affect 1 in 10 women, however many of those women remain undiagnosed (refer recent blog on Living With an Invisible Illness). Diagnosing endometriosis can be challenging, firstly because doctors don’t always understand the degree of pain that women experience. Sadly, […]
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex, debilitating disorder, characterised by prolonged, persistent, medically unexplained fatigue lasting for at least six months and accompanied by several other unexplained physical, constitutional and neuropsychological symptoms. At present, the underlying aetiology (cause or manner of causation) and pathophysiology of CFS is unknown, however growing evidence is suggesting that […]
Histamine Intolerance
Histamine is a signaling protein that helps tell the body to exhibit certain actions. It is a necessary component for the processes required for immunity, communication of messages within the brain, inflammatory processes and triggers release of stomach acid. However, an excess of histamine can cause the following symptoms within the body: neurological – irritability, […]
Are You Living With an Invisible Illness
I see a lot of patients in clinic who have been let down by traditional medical care because they do not fit neatly into a box for a diagnosis. Patients present with a list of symptoms, sometimes diverse and seemingly unlinked, and often their blood work will come back as ‘normal’. So, the doctor tells them […]
What is Naturopathy
noun 1. a system of treating disease and disorders in humans based on promoting the body’s own natural defences, especially by use of herbs, natural foods, massage, exercise and sunlight. (Macquarie Dictionary Online) Naturopathy is an evidence-based approach to wellness which uses the healing power of nature to promote the body’s ability to repair itself. Let’s break […]
Supercharge Your Immunity
With many scientists around the world working to create potential treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, it may be hard to see why you would need to be doing anything yourself. However, there is a lot you can – and should – do to prepare your immune system naturally. After all, it is your best defence […]
Coffee – The good and the bad
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages. It contains caffeine which is a psychoactive stimulant drug that speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. The psychoactive effects of caffeine influence neurotransmitters (mood hormones) such as dopamine and norepinephrine which leads to better mood, greater alertness, energy and improved cognitive […]
Behaviour Starts in Their Gut
Every behaviour your child has is for a reason, and poor or unhelpful behaviour signals a deeper issue within their body that needs to be addressed. Parents don’t often make a connection between their child’s mind and their gut but these systems are intertwined more than any other two systems in the body. There are […]
Putting Your Health on Hold
Across the entire healthcare sector currently, we are seeing many patients deferring treatment. This includes not undertaking regular check-ups with their GP, putting off getting blood tests, not getting their blood sugar or blood pressure checked, not going for a PAP smear or continuing to monitor chronic health conditions. It makes sense though, doesn’t it. […]
What Really Causes Acne
The answer … well, it depends. There are so many internal and external factors that cause or contribute to acne. The list is extensive however there are several common threads I see when treating individuals with acne. Hormones Commonly, females are prescribed the oral contraceptive pill (the pill) to help control their acne. The pill […]
Choline Under the Spotlight
Almost as famous (nutritionally) as the lesser known Hemsworth brother. (If you were about to Google it, I’ll save you the trouble – his name is Luke). Choline has recently stepped forward from the shadows and into the spotlight, becoming the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle for many of my complex cases. But when […]
Acute Care – It’s just 20-minutes away
Our immune system does an incredible job of protecting us against harmful bacteria, viruses, toxins, fungi and parasites. It recognises the cells that make up our body and works to get rid of anything that shouldn’t be there. There are a number of simple lifestyle factors which help your body do its work most effectively. […]
Welcome to the team Ally & Perri
We are very pleased to welcome two new naturopaths to our wonderful team at Kismet. Recently, we conducted brief Q&A sessions with them both so we could get to know them better and share a bit about them with you. Ally Stuart BHSc Please tell us why you become a naturopath. Naturopathy is the […]
NatEx 2020 X-Factor Awards
NatEx 2020 X-Factor Awards Runner up – Business Growth Award Recently, I attended The Natupreneur Experience (NatEx) conference for naturopaths from all over Australia and New Zealand. It was a weekend of fun, connection, inspiration and celebration. One of the biggest things I have as a naturopath is this amazing community of support from other […]
Reflux and the Medication Mask
Are you taking medication for reflux? Then you need to read this blog. It details my personal experience with gastric reflux and the reason behind why I became a naturopath. As a teenager, I was terribly unhealthy. I was a heavy smoker, I liked to drink, I ate crap and lived on Coca-Cola. It’s really […]
Food for Good Thought
Mental health complaints are becoming more common in the western world, with 50% of the population experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression at some point in their lives. There can be many contributing factors that have led this including an increase in stressors (family, work, financial, social), changes in sleep patterns and hyper processing of […]
Coronavirus – What you should know
The current spread of coronavirus across several continents has the potential to elicit significant anxiety and worry amongst the general public. As health professionals, it is important that we are equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge of this outbreak so that we are able to give a measured response with appropriate recommendations. Whilst the trajectory […]
It Could be Your Thyroid!
I am a 43-year-old professional who has autoimmune thyroid disease. After almost 12 months of hell on the medical roundabout, my condition was eventually diagnosed in 2008 by a naturopath. My diagnosis followed four years of extremely stressful life events one, the culmination being the traumatic breakdown of my marriage. The 12 months that followed […]
Menopause – Is it hot in here?
Most women won’t even really know they are going into perimenopause—the stage roughly 2–10 years leading up to menopause, with menopause said to have occurred 12 months after your period stops. For many women though, the symptoms are significant. Common symptoms of perimenopause include: Anxiety Insomnia Weight gain Night sweats Low libido, vaginal dryness Heavy […]
Nutrient Spotlight – Biotin
In the recent blog ‘The Digestion Sessions’, we discussed what a healthy digestive process looks like. The main goal of the process is to digest nutrients from our food to help our body do all the amazing things it does. Now let’s have look at some of those nutrients and the role they play in […]
Food Focus – Tahini
Have you been guilty of buying a jar of tahini with all good intentions of using it for hummus, only to put it in the fridge long enough for it to go rancid then, after the appropriate amount of time, throw it out? Our nut and seed butters are so good for a variety of […]
Histamine Foods
Many more people suffer from allergies these days than ever before. This may be caused by external sources such as pollen, animals or environmental chemicals. But it might surprise that certain foods also contain substances that can contribute to allergic reactions by increasing our histamine load. Our body requires histamine and it is normal to […]
