Menopause is hugely significant in a woman's life, bringing various physiological changes that can impact overall health. Nutrition plays a critical role in managing these changes, reducing symptoms, and preventing long-term health issues such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. Understanding Menopause and Peri-menopause Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, typically occurring between 50-55. Peri-menopause, the transitional period leading up to menopause, can start years earlier and is

Intermittent fasting (IF) has a beneficial impact on insulin sensitivity, metabolic rate, and cellular repair processes.  The role of autophagy, a cellular cleanup process that occurs during fasting, is a key benefit of IF. As a reminder, IF is important as it: reduces inflammation, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving heart health. contributes to better mental clarity and increased energy levels. aids in weight loss by reducing calorie intake and enhancing

I am often asked about Intermittent Fasting (IF) and weight loss. However, IF has gained significant attention in recent years for its potential benefits in promoting cognitive health and mitigating the effects of cognitive impairment. This makes it an even more interesting dietary intervention. For those of you who don’t know, the IF approach alternates periods of eating and fasting, inducing a metabolic switch from glucose to ketone bodies, which has

Fermented foods, like kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut, are really coming to the fore for their potential health benefits. But is there substance to these claims or is it just hype? In actual fact, recent research underscores the profound impact these foods can have on our overall health, particularly through their influence on gut microbiota, metabolic functions, immune health and chronic disease management. I’ve looked at multiple studies over the past

A May 2024 study highlights the profound impact that diet quality can have on mental health and brain structure. The study "Adherence to unhealthy diets is associated with altered frontal gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations and grey matter volume: preliminary findings" delves into this complex relationship, focusing on how diet influences neurochemistry and brain morphology. The study looked at 30 adults divided into two groups: those who ate a healthy Mediterranean

Aging is an inevitable part of life, but recent scientific advancements suggest that we might have more control over how we age than previously thought. Biological age, which reflects the true state of our bodies at a cellular level, can differ from chronological age, the number of years we have lived. Emerging research indicates that lifestyle and dietary changes can significantly reduce biological age, effectively making us younger from the

The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system and regulate the body's stress response through the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis. Problems in the HPA axis can result in either underactivity (hypofunction) or overactivity (hyperfunction), impacting chronic disease risk. Functional medicine aims to find and treat the root causes of these dysfunctions to restore and promote optimal health. Misconceptions About "Adrenal Fatigue" Many refer to "adrenal fatigue" as if the adrenal glands wear

To identify the root cause of your health problems, Functional Medicine Testing uses advanced nutrient, blood, hormone, stool, saliva, and genetic tests.   Functional medicine practitioners commonly use specific lab tests to gain a better understanding of what is going on in your body's ecosystem. Functional Medicine Testing consists of advanced nutrient, blood, hormone, stool, saliva and genetic tests to identify the root cause of your health issues. Although it very much depends

Approximately 463 million people have diabetes in the world. The International Diabetes Federation reported that there are 1.8 million South Africans living with diabetes. However, it estimates an additional undiagnosed population of 69% of the total number of diabetics. The African continent is expected to see the highest increase in diabetes globally by 2045 from 19 million to 47 million.   Whilst type 2 diabetes has several causes, genetics and lifestyle choices

Many people who contract Covid-19 will recover in 2-3 weeks.  However, for some people, even those who have had mild Covid, symptoms can persist for months. This is called Long Covid and can include many symptoms that have originally been associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME.   What are some of the symptoms that are associated with Long Covid: Fatigue Shortness of breath Cough Joint pain Muscle pain and weakness Chest pain Brain