We all want to wake up and feel beautiful, radiant and confident in our own skin. While we should be able to do this without a second thought, regardless of colour or texture, sometimes underlying conditions or shifts in the body can get in the way of our beautiful glow and spirit.

There is a strong connection between the thyroid and gut health. Studies have shown that low thyroid hormone production can lead to leaky gut and impaired digestive health can impair thyroid function. Optimal digestion supports a reduction in the antibodies associated with autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's and Graves.

Understand the complexities of a condition known as SIBO and how it can be a driving factor in thyroid conditions.

We’re all trying our best to live clean, green lives. It’s one thing that we know is beneficial for our overall health. Only, these days the world we live in makes it harder to escape them. Environmental toxin exposure is concerning; from the food we eat and the water we drink to the products we clean our bodies and homes with. More often than not they’re laden with high doses of toxins that have devastating effects on our health in the long-run.

The thyroid gland is a powerhouse in the human body. But because a lot of it’s magic happens behind the scenes in the endocrine (hormonal) system, when things go wrong they can be hard to pick up on. There are a few telltale signs that we tend to think nothing of, but when they begin to arise collectively (or sometimes on their own), they begin to point to a thyroid problem.

You might be surprised to learn that there is more than just one type of oestrogen.

Oestrogens are a group of steroid hormones produced in various organs (not just the ovaries) and the level of these oestrogens change throughout life and in physiological and pathological conditions.

While oestrogen is typically thought of as a female hormone, it is produced by males also. In women, this group of sex hormones are responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts, endometrium, and regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Within the oestrogen hormone family, there are three main forms to focus on:

Did you spend your childhood like most of us in the backyard or local swimming pool?

I remember growing up spending most mornings & afternoons at swimming training. But did you know Chlorine can be detrimental to thyroid health?

Magnesium is one of my favourite nutrients.

I fist became acquainted with magnesium back when I was a first year naturopath student. 

I used to consume coffee like it was going out of fashion in order to get me through assignments, deadlines and full time work. Until that is, I learned about magnesium.

You see coffee consumption actually works against the body when we are stressed, not only does it increase the excretion of B vitamins required to help combat stress, but it also triggers cortisol release.

Stress has become common place in our day to day lives. Whether it be associated with work, money, family, or something else, stress can have a massive impact on our lives.
While short burst of stress are actually good for you, chronic long term stress has been clinically proven to cause a vast array of negative effects on health including thyroid health.

There are many different causes for hair loss through out life, such as post childbirth or through menopause for women and most men will lose some hair by the time they reach adulthood. But while some hair loss is considered normal, excessive prolonged loss is not. 

Of the many health conditions that can cause excessive hair loss and thinning, thyroid conditions are one of the most common. Severe and unmanaged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can both result in hair loss, thinning or even balding. 

There has been a large shift in the move towards natural medicine in recent times, with 70% of the Australian population having tried some form of complimentary medicine. But while we are seeing this shift, there seems to still be a stigma surrounding naturopathic medicine.

Often when I am asked what I do for a profession, I get a vast array of responses such as "What's that?", "Is that similar to Homeopathy?" and sometimes just an "Oh interesting."

So I thought I would debunk a few of the myths that are often associated with naturopathic medicine. 

The essential trace mineral, selenium, is of crucial importance to human health. It is a necessary component of several major metabolic pathways including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense and immune regulation.

While the body requires selenium, it does not produce this mineral, therefore selenium must be obtained through the diet or supplementation.