31st October 2023
The Power of Tiny
I’m fascinated by the science behind behaviour change, especially in the area of habit formation and how emotions influence one’ ... More
Staying curious…
I’m fascinated by the science behind behaviour change, especially in the area of habit formation and how emotions influence one’ ... More
Fellas and partners, have you noticed your partner is going through some big hormonal changes – physically and emotionally? In order to supp ... More
This week is Women’s Health Week, and the theme is ‘Grow Your Knowledge’. One area that is lesser spoken about when it com ... More
Mental health and wellbeing exists on a spectrum, with individuals occupying various points along that spectrum at different times in their ... More
“Most of us don’t think about soil when we sit down for a meal with friends and family. But we should. We all know that a fresh pear is heal ... More
Gosh there is just so much to talk about when it comes to Magnesium! Here are some answers to some great questions I’ve been asked re ... More
You are what you eat, right? This saying originally appeared in 1826 when Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer, politician, and fa ... More
Culinary herbs and spices are powerful digestive helpers. They help relieve gas and bloating, stimulate the production of digestive juices a ... More
Last week I travelled to glorious Orange, where I had the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business of soil health & sys ... More
When my daughter was 20 months old, she noticed some slow-healing sores on my leg (which were actually white tailed spider bites!). She too ... More
Let’s begin by acknowledging the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is NOT a ‘man’s’ disease, far from it. In Australia, more than ... More
This year marks the 12th year in practice for me, so I thought I’d celebrate by doing a few very necessary upgrades to how I practice. ... More
With the World Cup on last year (and a son and husband who loooove soccer), I got sucked into the household football frezy! Watching the Wor ... More
As another year draws to an end, I’ve been feeling somewhat reflective. I’ve been reflecting on who I’ve worked with, b ... More
As many of you are aware, I’ve been working with Joy McClymont from Off the Track Training for almost a decade. In that time, it’ ... More
Herbs and spices have been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. There is now ample evidence to demonstrate ... More
A RECIPE FOR LONG-LASTING CHANGE Servings: 1. Cooking time: Infinite Ingredients:Self-belief Curiosity Attentiveness Observation Patienc ... More
I didn’t discover I had Gilbert’s Syndrome until I was in my early 30s. Having learnt so very much about Gilbert’s since t ... More
There’s a whole lot of discussion around what ‘regeneration’ means, and like anything, it probably means different things to different peopl ... More
My job involves getting to the specifics of what progress looks like for the individuals I’m working with. It involves advocacy, education, ... More
Ashwagandha. Heard of it? Given this herb’s soaring popularity in recent years, my guess is yes! Ashwagandha is also referred to as Withania ... More
After chopping up some beetroot this morning, my hands were a beautiful shade of pink, which reminded me of the potency of pigments and phyt ... More
We live in a world where we’re bombarded with advertising, brands and content. Where many people recognise far more logos of multinational c ... More
The vagus nerve is the largest and most complex of the twelve cranial nerves. It is a set of nerves connecting most of the major organs betw ... More
Did you know that a child’s nutritional status has a significant effect on pubertal development, and can explain as much as 25% of the ... More
As I’ve blogged about before, the way we perceive food (i.e. from a place of stress/ fear/ negativity versus from a place of celebrati ... More
The mere act of observing and tracking habits can change behaviour. Take food journaling as a simple example of this. Research shows that wh ... More
Why do some people lose weight on low carb diets and others don’t? Why do some people have a 10 times greater ‘tolerance’ to alcohol than ot ... More
Growing up, I had a really close friend that LOVED spicy foods. She would hunt down tabasco and chilli sauce everywhere we went… the h ... More
I was talking to my kids a few weeks ago about superpowers and how I believe we all have them. My husband then asked me, “what’s ... More
I don’t think a day goes by where my inbox isn’t being hit with a research update on Vitamin D, and I’m not alone. During COVID times, ... More
The last time I had antibiotics was about 16 years ago, when I was visiting a dear friend in the south of France. The reason? A terribly inf ... More
Until I started studying, I had NO idea what the appendix did or where it lived in the body. None. All I knew was that it fell into the same ... More
Yesterday I heard an interesting interview on Life Matters (ABC RN) where Dr Norman Swan was discussing his new book which is dubbed an ‘ult ... More
Just like healthy soil, health of the human gut microbiota is characterised by diversity and abundance. Also just like soil, our gut loves s ... More
Did you know that the way we think about food has an impact how we physiologically process and respond to that food? I want to share two stu ... More
I’m really excited to be launching this one! It’s for those that are seeking continuity of care, close mentoring, practical advi ... More
Iodine deficiency in Australia (and globally) is not a new phenomenon. In the early 1900s salt was iodised, in the mid 1900s government fund ... More
Could you list the top three most well-known symptoms of iron deficiency?? If you said fatigue, pale skin, and low immunity you’d be right. ... More
“I’ve had an issue with low Iron for as long as I can remember…” “I probably should book in for that B12 injection I was due for 6 months ag ... More
Before your imagination starts running in overdrive, no, I’m not talking about the type of gift you get all wrapped up with a pretty r ... More
Last year, while I was standing at a café waiting for a takeaway order, I could hear the conversations happening all around me. To my left, ... More
I recently heard someone say, “2020 has been a horrible guest, but an excellent teacher!”. It has been a year of constant adjusting and we’v ... More
About 8 years ago I delivered a presentation on “leaky gut” and how gluten was the prime dietary culprit when it came to digesti ... More
Often, simply knowing that something is beneficial is not enough to motivate a person into action. For example, it’s common knowledge that v ... More
Each and every one of us should know how to protect and support the structure that literally supports us. Our bones tend to grow at a pretty ... More
For the past few months I’ve been tinkering away behind the scenes working on some virtual courses. With COVID changing the way that 2020 ha ... More
Fasting is booming. Google Trends shows us that interest in fasting has jumped exponentially since 2004, and there is no shortage of books, ... More
As many of you already know, I have two dominating nutrition passions, one is Econutrition and the other is pathology interpretation. The fi ... More
With virtually all media attention on COVID-19, for THIS post, I’ve made a choice to continue on discussing the various aspects of nutrition ... More
Grasping the enormity of the situation the world finds itself in is beyond challenging. I’ve been reluctant to post too much about the pand ... More
Last year, I asked a 70 year old patient of mine what advice she had for us “young” ones (many of whom are professional jugglers working day ... More
Food intolerances (or “IBS-like disorders”) are estimated to affect up to 20% of the population and include Coeliac disease, Non ... More
Quite a lot it seems.To get straight to the point, here are the top causes of nutrient declines in food (over time):Soil health decline; i ... More
*Confirmation bias* – are you aware of it? It’s the tendency to search for information that confirms our beliefs, rather than looking ... More
Accessing and eating fresh, nutrient dense, chemical free food is a very real challenge for many who live in rural and remote parts of Austr ... More
When it comes to folate, a lot is in the name! Often misunderstood, “folate” (or Vitamin B9) is really just an umbrella term for a bunch of ... More
Over the next few months and years, I’m keen to get out into rural communities. My first workshop is in glorious Biloela. Why?To br ... More
‘The greatest gap in the world is the gap between knowing and doing’- John Maxwell Most of us know what will make us happier, wh ... More
With probiotics, fermented foods, essential oils and herbal medicines being all the rage in the gut health world, it’s easy to zoom in on th ... More
Stress can be incredibly beneficial for us. In fact, it’s a critical part of our evolution, and intermittent or low-grade stress is a pow ... More
Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to speak with Prof Fred Provenza, author of Nourishment: What Animals can Teach Us about Rediscover ... More
On the 6 – 7 April, I’ll be in Orange NSW with some amazing presenters, talking all things health! Some of the talks will includ ... More
In the past month I’ve had a few people ask me my thoughts on infant rice cereal, so I thought I’d share my answer publicly in case anyone e ... More
So often, we put toddler tantrums and behavioural issues in our kids down to them being “tired” or “pushing boundaries” or “another le ... More
Chances are, even if you’re not fitness driven, you’ve heard of the Macro Diet, or macro tracking. Macronutrient (macro) tracking involves c ... More
It’s hard to believe 2019 is less than a week away. When I was in primary school, I really thought we’d all be driving cars that flew and li ... More
I don’t believe that anyone should be judged based on the colour of their skin, their physical ability, the clothes they’re wearing, what ... More
Essentially, we are born incomplete. Our vital organs are still developing, and our digestive system is immature. In the first few years of ... More
What is Cortisol? A steroid hormone that is released from the adrenal glands during times of stress. Why is everyone talking about it? Becau ... More
I recently listened to a great podcast which discussed the concept of ‘body literacy’, and how important it is to educate our young women es ... More
The term “self-care” is used a LOT in the wellness space. Up until recently, I personally felt that the term was overused because the stereo ... More
Let’s dive straight in! 1.In the 1700s, pineapples were extremely valuable, and ONE pineapple would sell for a modern day equivalent o ... More
Most of us don’t like being told what to do, even if we’re the ones telling ourselves what to do! Rules often come with a natural urge to br ... More
This year, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for the kidneys. In the popular health arena, compared to the organs like the liver and gut, ... More
We have a beautiful outside fire-pit at our home, and this winter we’ve had quite a few fires, BBQ’s and plenty of star-gazing. At every BBQ ... More
There are three things which concern me over and above anything else. They are:Global warming Antibiotic resistance The widespread use of ... More
When adolescence hit (in all its glory!), for me, acne was one of the most troubling symptoms. In fact, I was so bothered by my acne, that n ... More
I spoke to a good friend recently, and she said “Stace, you look so healthy and happy at the moment, what are you doing differently?” I thou ... More
Food is important for both physical development and emotional nourishment. When you think about where you live, for many people, it’s much m ... More
This pregnancy, I’ve intentionally not taken any Vitamin D supplements. Not because they’re dangerous, but because sunshine is better! Human ... More
Infantile reflux is challenging, for everyone involved. The symptoms of infantile gastro-oesophageal reflux (“reflux”) are often ... More
Firstly, what is the Iodine Patch Test? It’s a test that measures how quickly the body absorbs Iodine through the skin. Supposedly, if a pat ... More
School has officially started and the year is in full swing for most of us. Despite our best intentions to simplify things, each year, our ‘ ... More
For me, the New Year isn’t a time to throw out the ‘old you’ to make room for the ‘new’… it’s simply a time to reflect and project! Reflect ... More
Firstly, there’s no denying that breast milk remains the perfect source of nutrients and bacteria to support human development. I love ... More
Anyone who knows me would know that I’m not very dogmatic when it comes to nutrition. I’m a fan of the 80:20 approach and I encourage dietar ... More
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, no doubt you’re familiar with the crucial importance of Folate before and during pregnan ... More
Why Naturopathy? Unlike many of my colleagues, I didn’t get into Natural medicine because I had some kind of a personal “health crisis ... More
My all-time favourite green leafy vegetable is Rocket. I just adore it. I crave the bitterness and flavour! Lucky for me, and we’ve got an e ... More
The reality for many people, especially those that live in remote/rural locations, is that their access to (and therefore intake of) fresh ... More
G’day. I recently read a study about how incredible Natto (a traditional Japanese fermented soybean dish) is for reducing cardiovascul ... More
There was an interesting study published in the journal Obesity last year, which followed up some of The Biggest Loser (America) contestants ... More
The nutrition arena has become very noisy. There are blogs, podcasts, programs, shows, documentaries and books discussing what we should and ... More
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the “Clean Fifteen and the Dirty Dozen” refer respectively to the fruits and ... More
Our food choices are influenced by many things – our home environment, how far we live from food stores/markets, the workplace, our emotiona ... More
According to many alternative health care practitioners, a ‘leaky gut’ may be the culprit for a wide range of disorders. Leaky Gut Syndrome ... More
Arsenic is an element that’s commonly found in the environment. It’s primarily found as “inorganic Arsenic”, which is highly toxic. Due to t ... More
Recently, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released a statement concluding that there is no good quality evidence to ... More
Early next year, I’m giving a talk to a bunch of teenage girls about health, well-being and nutrition. My goal is to educate these young women, empower them, bust some nutrition-related myths, and help them build a healthy relationship with food. It got me thinking, if I could offer some words of wisdom to my teenage s ... More
In my last blog, I encouraged you to ponder your ‘relationship’ with food, and think about your food story. Today, I’m discussing how to have a healthy relationship with food, and the concept of “mindful or intuitive eating” versus “controlled eating”. Its common knowledge that most dieters fail to stick to their progr ... More
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the ‘relationship‘ we all have with food. I’ve been reflecting on my own emotional relationship with food, and have been digging deeper to find out other people’s food stories.We all have a food story, which is basically the accumulation of our past and present experience wit ... More
Like any ‘diet’, the Paleo diet can be done poorly, or it can be done well! For example, if a Vegan diet isn’t done well, it can end in a long list of health complaints. The Paleo diet is no different, and is certainly not for everyone. In reality, the Paleo diet is more than just a diet; it’s a lifestyle. Is the Paleo ... More
I’m about to break some unfortunate news – BBQ’d meat has been shown to contain carcinogenic compounds. Yes, carcinogenic. Substances called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals formed when muscle meat (such as beef, pork, fish, and poultry) is cooked using high-temperatu ... More
Ever noticed how even the most bland tasting foods can taste incredible with the right dressing? In this blog, I’m going to teach you how to make a killer dressing so food is never boring again! Remember this… F.A.S.S, which stands for Fat – Acid – Sugar – Salt. When these four components are mixed properly, they form ... More
It seems I’m reading headlines like “Organic food not nutritionally superior to conventional food” all the time these days! So not surprisingly, I often get asked what my opinion is regarding organic food. Without going into the nitty-gritty of certification requirements, growing requirements and labeling laws, in orde ... More
The Parisian Diet, aka the French diet, is the latest diet to gain attention and momentum in the dietary world. Dr Jean-Michel Cohen, the man behind Parisian trend, says it’s based on three pillars – enjoyment, education and sustainability. On the diet, you get to enjoy potatoes, bread and wine. However, the first tip ... More
Change is inevitable, and due to a multitude of social drivers; the humble evening family meal is purportedly becoming a ritual of the past. A survey of over 1000 Australian families, revealed that a mere 22% of families share a meal four times a week or less (Huntley, 2008). What are the benefits of the family meal? A ... More
Sea vegetables are neither plants nor animals – they are actually classified as ALGAE. Why would anyone want to eat algae you ask? Because edible seaweeds and algae are unique , tasty and are a highly medicinal food group! Western cultures are only recently beginning to enjoy and appreciate seaweed, which has been a st ... More
Last week, I was casually introduced to a friend of a friend. In the name of making conversation, he asked me what I do… to which I proudly replied… “I’m a Naturopath”. He smirked and said “I don’t mean to be rude, but I really don’t believe in all that natural new age cosmo-stuff”. Having dealt with this quite a bit i ... More
Ever had a glass of wine and come out in an embarrassing rash? Ever had some dried apricots and got a nasty migraine? If you have, you might be interested to learn a little more about Sulphites. About 1 in 100 of us is sensitive or allergic to Sulphites, with this reaction being MUCH more common in asthmatics. The unpl ... More
Did you know that stress is NOT just in the mind? In fact, stress is anything which triggers a response from the SRS (Stress Response System), that means it may be:Psychological (i.e. divorce/work demands/loss of a loved one) Metabolic (i.e. inflammation/hormonal imbalances) Physiological (i.e. poor sleep/poor gut fu ... More
Milo cereal, Sultana Bra, Crunchy Nut, Fruit Loops or Coco pops anyone? As you may be aware, many commercial breakfast cereals which are marketed as “health foods”, are loaded with added sugar – some contain over 40% sugar! Many of the most commonly purchased cereals also display the Heart Foundation’s tick of approval ... More
FISH – One of the healthiest foods in the world… right? Fish can be an amazing source of easily digestible protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, zinc, tryptophan, selenium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. However, as most of you may be already aware, many species of fish contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals such as merc ... More
Did you know that we spend less when we shop in a counter-clockwise direction? Did you know that most supermarkets put the fruits and vegetables at the shop entrance so it gives consumers the illusion of freshness, healthy foods and a relaxed atmosphere? Did you that two of the most commonly purchased items, milk and b ... More
Technically known as Rubus idaeus, Raspberry leaf acts as a ‘partus preparator’– meaning it strengthens, tones and prepares the uterus for delivery of your precious child. Although this herb has very long history as a traditional medicinal plant, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that it was recognised by conventional medical ... More
Over the last 50 years, there has been an alarming rise in the Western world in the prevalence of allergic disorders such as hay fever, atopic dermatitis (or eczema), and asthma. One theory regarding the reason behind this is in the “Hygiene Hypothesis”. During the first year of life, a child’s immune system is being e ... More
Yes you do! We all do. The circadian rhythm (or ‘biorhythm’) is the process of biological variations over 24 hours. It is our cellular timekeeper and biological clock, which set’s the pace for physiological functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, cognition, blood sugar regulation, digestion and hormonal sec ... More