by Feeling Great | Aug 20, 2023 | Body, Mental Wellbeing, Mind, Weight Loss
10 Things You Should Know About Your Microbiome
If you had to name one of the most groundbreaking medical discoveries, what would it be? As a health practitioner, my answer is clear—the microbiome.
This vast community of trillions of bacteria lives in your gut, mouth, lungs, nasal passages, skin, and even brain. While we’ve known about these bacteria for years, we now understand their crucial role in nearly every aspect of our health.
Here are 10 key facts about your microbiome and why it matters:
1. Your Body Has More Bacteria Than Cells
Believe it or not, bacteria outnumber your cells 9 to 1. Even more surprising, the genes in your microbiome outnumber your own DNA by 150 to 1!
2. Your Microbiome Controls Essential Functions
Friendly bacteria help:
- Digest food and absorb nutrients
- Regulate metabolism and appetite
- Boost immunity and fight infections
- Enhance mental sharpness and mood
- Support heart and bone health
Without them, your body struggles to function properly.
3. Not All Bacteria Are Bad—Many Are Your Allies
Bacteria often get a bad reputation, but most are beneficial. They help restore gut health, combat fatigue, ease anxiety, improve skin conditions, and even reduce pain.
4. A Healthy Microbiome Affects Weight Loss
Your gut bacteria influence digestion, metabolism, and cravings. Some bacteria encourage inflammation and sugar cravings, while others support weight loss. A balanced microbiome keeps you energized, lean, and strong.
5. Rebalancing Your Microbiome Helps Burn Fat
Scientific studies confirm that a well-balanced gut boosts metabolism and fat loss. This is something I’ve seen firsthand in my naturopathic practice—when patients improve gut health, weight loss follows naturally.
6. Your Microbiome Impacts Mental Health
Your gut and brain are connected. If your microbiome is imbalanced, it can lead to:
- Anxiety and depression
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Memory issues and mood swings
7. Stress Can Damage Your Gut in Just 24 Hours
Bacteria have short lifespans—about 20 minutes. That means a single day of stress can alter your gut balance drastically. However, you can restore it quickly with the right foods and probiotics.
8. Probiotics Help Restore Balance
Probiotics are live bacteria that replenish your gut. You can find them in:
- Supplements
- Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi
9. Prebiotics Feed Your Good Bacteria
Prebiotics are fiber-rich foods that nourish healthy bacteria. Some top sources include:
- Asparagus, garlic, onions, leeks, carrots, and radishes
- Turmeric and cinnamon
10. The Future of Medicine Is Rooted in the Microbiome
Experts predict that gut health research will reshape modern medicine. The Mayo Clinic has even called microbiome science as important as genetics and germ theory.
Final Thoughts: Support Your Microbiome Today
Your microbiome is your hidden health powerhouse. By nourishing it with probiotics, prebiotics, and gut-friendly foods, you can improve digestion, boost energy, sharpen focus, and even enhance your mood.
Start prioritizing your gut health—your entire body will thank you!
Book Here if you need help with your microbiome? Fatigued, stressed, anxious, depressed, overweight, headaches, acne, eczema, colds, infections, joint and muscle pain….
by Feeling Great | Aug 10, 2023 | Mental Wellbeing
Food and Emotions: Do You Turn to Food for Comfort?
Understanding Emotional Eating and How to Overcome It
Food and Emotions? Do emotions influence your eating habits? Many people reach for food when feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. It is a common challenge that often leads to frustration and guilt. The cycle can feel endless, but with the right approach, you can break free and build healthier habits.
Do you ever reach for snacks when feeling stressed, bored, or overwhelmed? Emotional eating is a common struggle that often leads to frustration and guilt. The cycle can feel endless, but the good news is that you can break free. By recognizing triggers and adopting healthier coping strategies, you can regain control of your eating habits.
Why Emotional Eating Happens
For many, the connection between food and emotions starts in childhood. Parents may use snacks as a way to comfort, distract, or reward. Over time, this creates an emotional link to eating. As an adult, you might crave certain comfort foods simply because they remind you of happy memories.
Signs of Emotional Eating
- Eating when feeling stressed, sad, or anxious
- Craving specific comfort foods, even when full
- Feeling out of control around food
- Using food as a reward or distraction
Food and Emotions – 4 Tips to Overcome Stress Eating
1. Identify Your Triggers to Emotional Eating
Keep a food and mood journal. Write down:
What you ate or craved
How you felt before eating
Your emotions after eating
Recognizing these patterns helps you make better choices.
2. Find Healthier Coping Strategies
Instead of turning to food, try:
Deep breathing to reduce stress
A short walk or stretching to reset
Calling a friend for support
3. Pause Before Eating
When cravings hit, wait five minutes. Distract yourself by:
Drinking water
Stepping outside
Doing a quick activity
Often, the urge will pass.
4. Build Healthy Lifestyle Habits
A strong body and balanced mind help reduce emotional eating. Focus on:
Regular exercise to manage stress
Quality sleep to support hormone balance
Meaningful social connections for emotional well-being
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Eating Habits
Emotional eating isn’t about willpower—it’s about awareness and balance. Small, mindful changes will help you develop a healthier relationship with food. Try these tips today and break free from the cycle for good!
If you want to read about how to Eliminate Stress, Read This. If you would like further information or help to formulate a diet plan which will reduce the emotions and urge to Emotional Eating BOOK HERE
by Feeling Great | Aug 5, 2023 | Mental Wellbeing
Holistic Life – Live a Happy Life
Embrace Change with Holistic Life
Let’s explore how to embrace change, build resilience, and step into a life filled with purpose and joy with Holistic Life.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
Life doesn’t always go as planned—and that’s frustrating!
Sometimes, unexpected challenges shake our world. You may have lost a job, ended a relationship, faced health struggles, or experienced the heartache of losing a loved one. These moments can knock you off course, leaving you feeling uncertain and overwhelmed.
But here’s the good news—you can navigate these obstacles and emerge stronger than before. With the right mindset and tools, you can rebuild, grow, and find happiness again.
Holistic Life – Moving Forward When Life Feels Uncertain
“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
When life throws curveballs, it’s easy to feel stuck. However, your challenges don’t define you—your response does. Every setback holds an opportunity for growth. Resilience is the key to pushing through difficult times and creating a life that truly fulfills you.
A holistic life coach helps you shift your perspective, develop inner strength, and take action toward a brighter future. Whether you’re facing emotional struggles, career transitions, or personal loss, there are resources to support you.
How to Overcome Life’s Challenges – Tools for Resilience
“The most challenging times bring us the most empowering lessons.”
Building resilience is essential for moving forward. Life’s struggles can unearth hidden courage and lead to a more authentic, fulfilling journey.
Here are some powerful resources to inspire you and help you break through fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt:
1. Get Past Your Fears – Les Brown
This classic motivational talk is packed with inspiration. The setting may feel a little old-school, but the message is timeless: You have the power to overcome fear and take control of your life.
2. Emotional Flood – Tony Robbins (6-Minute Gratitude Tool)
Gratitude is a game-changer. This quick 6-minute exercise can instantly shift your mindset. Try it first thing in the morning or whenever you need a mental reset.
3. Watch “Finding Joe” – A Journey into Self-Discovery
Looking for a meaningful movie? Finding Joe explores the hero’s journey—a reminder that challenges are stepping stones to personal transformation.
4. The Power of Vulnerability – Brené Brown
Embracing vulnerability can help you build deeper connections, boost confidence, and find true strength. Brené Brown’s insights are life-changing.
The Secret to Lasting Change – Focus on the Future
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
Instead of dwelling on what’s lost, shift your focus to what’s possible. Each challenge is an opportunity to redefine your future. By focusing on growth, healing, and self-discovery, you can create a life that brings you genuine happiness and fulfillment.
The road ahead won’t always be easy, but with the right mindset and resources, you can move forward with confidence and strength.
Interested about ways to De-stress Life? Read This! and Book Here for a consultation with me!
💙 Much love and happiness,
Julie
by Feeling Great | Jun 17, 2023 | Personal Growth
Naturopath Mental Health Melbourne: The Power of Mindfulness
What Is The Power of Mindfulness and How Can It Benefit You?
Mindfulness has gained significant attention recently, as it’s recognized for its ability to reduce stress, boost self-awareness, and enhance emotional intelligence. It also helps manage difficult thoughts and emotions effectively.
Although mindfulness is now embraced in Western psychology, it has deep roots in Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Yoga. At its core, mindfulness is about consciously focusing on the present moment with openness, interest, and receptiveness. It involves waking up to our experiences, connecting with ourselves, and appreciating the fullness of each moment. This practice significantly enhances emotional and psychological resilience while improving life satisfaction.
How Practicing The Power of Mindfulness Can Help You
Mindfulness is the simple yet profound ability to be fully present, aware of your current experience, and not overwhelmed by external events. According to Mindful, it involves being fully in the here and now, without becoming overly reactive to the things happening around you.
By practicing mindfulness, you can:
- Be fully present in the current moment
- Safely experience unpleasant thoughts and feelings
- Become aware of what you might be avoiding
- Build a deeper connection to yourself, others, and the world around you
- Increase your self-awareness
- Be less reactive to stressors and negative emotions
- Learn to distinguish between yourself and your thoughts
- Experience life directly, rather than through your mental filters
- Realize that thoughts and feelings are transient, like weather patterns
- Cultivate emotional balance and stability
- Enjoy greater peace and calmness
- Foster self-acceptance and self-compassion
Mindfulness and Mental Health: Proven Benefits
Clinical studies have shown that mindfulness can help with a variety of mental health conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, substance abuse, and borderline personality disorder.
The skills developed through mindfulness practice offer numerous benefits, including:
- Reducing stress
- Overcoming self-limiting beliefs
- Enhancing focus and concentration
- Promoting calmness and emotional regulation
- Managing challenging emotions like frustration, resentment, boredom, and anxiety
Mindfulness equips you to:
- Improve focus and concentration
- Increase self-awareness
- Minimize the impact of stressful thoughts and emotions
- Enhance your relationships
- Identify and replace self-defeating behaviors
- Let go of negative thought patterns
Ultimately, mindfulness brings three major benefits: improved performance, reduced stress, and greater satisfaction in both work and life.
How Mindfulness Benefits Therapists and Coaches
For therapists and coaches, mindfulness offers additional advantages:
- It enhances empathy, compassion, and unconditional positive regard
- It helps you stay focused and present, even when your clients are emotionally overwhelmed
- It allows you to remain grounded and composed during emotional turmoil
- It fosters a healthy perspective on therapeutic outcomes—neither complacent nor overly attached
- It helps you maintain direction and focus in therapy sessions
- It increases your ability to observe and respond to clients’ emotional cues effectively
Final Thought
Mindfulness is not just a technique; it’s a transformative practice that can significantly enhance both personal well-being and professional effectiveness.
Are you ready to take the step and become mindful? Get in touch with me! Naturopath Mental Health Melbourne & Online Video Consults Over Australia
Read the Taking Back Your Power! It could just change how you experience life! You can also read this Holistic Life – Create Balance and Find Fulfillment and if you find it helpful, share your experience with us!
by Feeling Great | Apr 26, 2023 | Mental Wellbeing, Spirit
Naturopath Mental Health: The Six Human Needs
Why Do We Do the Things We Do?
Our Mental Health is our needs on what drives us. They create desire, motive, and influence our actions. But have you ever wondered why humans behave the way they do? The answer lies in the six fundamental needs that shape our emotions, actions, and ultimately, our destinies.
Every person is influenced by these six basic human needs. All behavior is simply an attempt to satisfy these needs. These needs affect our quality of life, relationships, and overall sense of fulfillment.
The Six Human Needs
1. Certainty
This need provides assurance that we can avoid pain and gain pleasure. It is the desire for security and survival, which drives our actions toward stability and predictability in life.
2. Uncertainty/Variety
Humans crave change and novelty. The need for variety pushes us to seek out the unknown, new experiences, and excitement. It’s what keeps life engaging and dynamic.
3. Significance
We all have an inherent desire to feel unique, important, and valued. This need drives us to seek recognition and a sense of importance in our lives, both from others and within ourselves.
4. Connection/Love
This need is all about forming meaningful relationships. Whether with others or a sense of connection to something greater, humans need to feel a strong bond and unity with others.
5. Growth
Personal growth is essential to our sense of well-being. This need involves expanding our capacity, capability, and understanding, leading us to continuously improve ourselves.
6. Contribution
Giving back and helping others is another fundamental human need. The desire to contribute to the well-being of others gives us purpose and a sense of fulfillment.
What Makes Us Different?
While these six needs are universal, what differs is how we value them. Are you primarily driven by certainty and significance? Or do you place higher value on connection and contribution, or perhaps variety and growth?
These values show up in every aspect of our lives. For instance, someone who values variety might live a more spontaneous lifestyle compared to someone who prioritizes certainty and seeks stability.
People meet these needs in various ways, often with unique approaches. For example, some individuals may seek certainty by controlling every aspect of their life, while others embrace faith and relinquish control. Similarly, the need for variety may be fulfilled through travel, hobbies, or trying new things, creating excitement and engagement in life.
The Desire for Fulfillment
At the core of human behavior is the desire for a meaningful life. Fulfillment comes from continuously growing and contributing beyond oneself. These two spiritual needs play a crucial role in achieving a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose.
Dysfunctional Behavior and Unmet Needs
When we fail to meet our needs consistently, we may settle for comfort or attempt to fulfill them on a smaller scale. Dysfunctional behaviors often stem from an inability to satisfy these core needs in healthy ways.
It’s essential to replace disempowering ways of meeting these needs with strategies that empower both ourselves and others. Recognizing which needs are driving you, particularly in times of stress or difficulty, can help you shift your behaviors toward positive outcomes.
What Drives You?
Take a moment to reflect: which needs most often appear in your life, especially when facing stress or challenges? Understanding your driving forces can help you break old patterns and replace them with empowering choices.
What is the primary force that drives your life? Which needs do you value most?
Creating Lasting Fulfillment
The key to lasting fulfillment is understanding where you currently stand and how these needs influence your life. By recognizing your core needs and expanding your choices, you can pave the way for a more fulfilling, empowered life.
Understanding these six needs and how they influence your behavior can help you create positive new patterns that lead to lasting fulfillment. – Tony Robbins
There is no greater force in shaping your destiny than the needs you value most.
Naturopath Mental Health Services
Are you ready to explore the power of understanding your core needs? Whether you’re in Melbourne or anywhere across Australia, Naturopath Mental Health services and online video consultations can support you in achieving lasting well-being. Get in touch today to begin your journey to fulfillment.
Learn what is directing your life from the inside out and how to change it if it isn’t working for you. Contact me today for a free no obligation phone consultation. Available in person or online video consults.
You can also read my ‘How to Influence Others Positively‘ and tell me what you think about it!
