HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
How to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years
How to reduce the risk a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years By naturopath Margaret Jasinska A recent study conducted in Denmark has found that newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics are at significant risk of having a heart attack or stroke in ten years. The risk is greatest in those aged between 40 and 49 at diagnosis. The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. A study was conducted of all Danish patients with type 2 diabetes diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 and sex- and age-matched people from the general [...]
Adrenal gland exhaustion can cause poor quality sleep
Adrenal gland exhaustion can cause poor quality sleep By naturopath Margaret Jasinska Do you suffer from poor quality sleep and morning fatigue? Is your sleep light and restless, leaving you feeling unrefreshed in the mornings? Have you considered that your adrenal glands may be responsible? Getting deep, restful sleep is so important for overall health, energy, and a positive mental outlook. Many health problems could be significantly improved if only a person was able to achieve quality sleep. Unfortunately, there are numerous factors that can interfere with sleep quality; stress is a major one but nutrient deficiencies, hormone [...]
Autoimmune hepatitis: When the immune system attacks the liver
Autoimmune hepatitis: When the immune system attacks the liver By naturopath Margaret Jasinska When most people think of hepatitis, they think of the viral infections hepatitis A, B or C. These liver infections are common but hepatitis can be caused by other factors. The word hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Sometimes the immune system can attack a person's own liver cells and this is called autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis may cause mild, vague symptoms such as fatigue, indigestion, insomnia, abdominal discomfort and itchy skin. Sometimes the disease is aggressive and can cause extreme symptoms, including jaundice. The [...]
What to do if you’re tired all the time
What to do if you’re tired all the time By Dr Sandra Cabot To be tired all the time is not normal and yet many people come to accept it as they are too tired to fight it, or even to get help. They continue in life just by putting one step in front of another. Fatigue is insidious and can be a killer, as it increases the risk of accidents. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a diagnosis but it does not provide the cause of the fatigue and for this reason there are literally thousands of treatments [...]
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 [...]