HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
Natural menopause remedies
Natural menopause remedies By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Menopause symptoms can range from mild and slightly annoying to overwhelming and debilitating. A lot of women don’t want to take hormone replacement therapy, or they’re not able to due to past health history. Fortunately there are several safe and effective options for managing the most common symptoms. Hot flushes and night sweats are usually the worst symptoms because they can significantly disrupt sleep. Long term sleep deprivation inevitably leads to exhaustion, with a significant increase in the risk of depression or anxiety. Vaginal dryness is another common menopause symptom that [...]
High blood sugar can age you prematurely
High blood sugar can age you prematurely By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Did you know that elevated blood sugar can cause your skin to age more quickly? Consistently raised blood glucose, as well as occasional glucose spikes can accelerate a process in your skin called glycation. This is where glucose binds with protein and changes its structure. If glucose glycates the collagen in your skin, it can become rigid and sag prematurely. Your skin can lose its bounce and elasticity. You don’t have to be a diabetic to suffer the damaging effects of high blood sugar. Research has shown [...]
Hidden coeliac disease is common in Australian kids
Hidden coeliac disease is common in Australian kids By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Undiagnosed coeliac disease is extremely common in first degree relatives with the condition. The longer coeliac disease goes undiagnosed, the more harm it can cause to a person’s health. The symptoms of coeliac disease can vary widely among individuals, with some people not experiencing any digestive symptoms at all. If coeliac disease is in your family, getting yourself and your children tested may be a wise option. Gastroenterologist Dr James Daveson, from the Wesley Research Institute in Brisbane, said findings showed a “high rate” of undiagnosed [...]
Female coeliacs are more likely to experience hormone problems
Female coeliacs are more likely to experience hormone problems By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Recent research has shown that women with coeliac disease are more like to experience a range of hormonal problems, including premature ovarian failure, irregular menstruation, endometriosis and infertility. It’s important to remember that those with coeliac disease may be more predisposed to suffering other health problems. Coeliac disease doesn’t just affect the gut. It can cause collateral damage to other parts of the body. In addition to the hormone conditions mentioned above, female coeliacs are also more likely to experience a late menarche (beginning of [...]
Myths and facts about stomach acid
Myths and facts about stomach acid By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Stomach acid can be a confusing topic. Stomach acid blocking drugs are some of the most widely used medications in the world. That’s not because there’s an epidemic of people with excess stomach acid. In fact, a large number of digestive problems are actually caused by insufficient stomach acid production. During a meal, the cells of your stomach produce hydrochloric acid and the digestive enzyme called pepsin. Stomach acid and the enzyme pepsin are especially important for breaking down protein into its building blocks, called amino acids. It [...]
Cholesterol lowering drugs can make you insulin resistant
Cholesterol lowering drugs can make you insulin resistant By naturopath Margaret Jasinska A recent systematic review of medical literature has shown that statin drugs reduce insulin sensitivity and worsen insulin resistance. This finding comes from studies with a total of 46,728,889 participants. This means that reducing your cholesterol with medication may worsen your metabolic health. It’s ironic that achieving a lower cholesterol reading can lead to insulin resistance, which is an underlying driver of serious diseases such as fatty liver, heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancer. Statins are some of the most commonly prescribed medications [...]
COVID raises the risk of autoimmune disease
Covid raises the risk of autoimmune disease By naturopath Margaret Jasinska COVID infection increases the risk of developing an autoimmune disease in genetically susceptible people. Research conducted in South Korea looked at 354,527 people diagnosed with COVID-19 via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from October 8, 2020 to December 31, 2021. The researchers compared the COVID-19 group to 6,134,940 healthy people who didn’t get COVID-19 to assess the risk for autoimmune and autoinflammatory connective tissue diseases. They found the risk of alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis, Crohn's disease, and sarcoidosis were higher in [...]
Fatty liver raises the risk of cancer
Fatty liver raises the risk of cancer By naturopath Margaret Jasinska A new study has found that developing a fatty liver before age 45 increases the risk of cancer, especially digestive and lung cancer. This is a worrying finding considering how prevalent fatty liver has become in young people, even teenagers and children. It is also concerning because the incidence of lung cancer continues to be very high, even in people who have never been smokers. Bowel cancer rates continue to climb, especially in people under the age of 50. Fatty liver is the most common liver disease [...]
5 foods to optimise muscle recovery
5 foods to optimise muscle recovery By Jessah Shaw, Adv Dip (Nut Med) Whether you’re new to your exercise routine or an experienced lifter, it’s essential to refuel properly for optimal muscle recovery. When you do strength training your body creates micro tears in your muscles which enables them to repair and come back stronger. These 5 foods contain important nutrients to support muscle repair and reduce muscle soreness: Spinach Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K1, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Not only has it been [...]
How does alcohol affect gut health?
How does alcohol affect gut health? By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Most people enjoy a few drinks a few times a week while relaxing in the evening or while socializing. Alcohol is a part of society and culture in most parts of the world. Drinking too much obviously has negative health effects. The quantity differs among individuals; some people can get away with heavy drinking all their life and live to a ripe old age. Other people experience health consequences from light to moderate drinking fairly early in life. They tend to be people with underlying poor gut and [...]