Articles
Endometriosis
Endometriosis, or “endo” as it is sometimes referred to, is a condition that affects the reproductive organs and the pelvic cavity in women. It is estimated that approximately 70 million females worldwide have endometriosis.
The process behind the condition is not well understood however what is known is that cells that are destined to line and thicken the wall of the uterus each month migrate to areas outside the uterus. Just as the tissue that is laid down to line the uterus each month receives hormonal signals about when to shed, any uterine tissue that has been laid down elsewhere, such as around the fallopian tubes or attached to the bowel, also receive the same hormonal signals and this tissue also bleeds, which can be an intensely painful process.
Emotional Overeating
Every day of my working life I meet women who eat too much. They know they do but they can’t seem to stop. Sometimes it is nutritious food, sometimes it’s not but whatever the case, they know they would be much better off if they ate less.
Often these people are seeing me because they want to lose weight and they are precious, intelligent people who don’t understand why they do what they do. You would have to have had your head buried in the sand for the past 30 odd years to not know that we need to eat more fresh food, especially vegetables, and less processed food. These people know that yet they don’t do it, even though they truly believe that they are desperate to lose weight. Read More
Hormone Havoc or Heaven?
Estrogen and progesterone are two of a woman’s major sex (steroid) hormones and their interaction has the potential to make us happy or sad, vivacious or anxious, and our clothes looser or tighter. Read More
Food, Hormones, Stress & You
Can you remember a time when some of the sweeter foods in life did not instigate that uninvited voice somewhere in your brain, saying “why on earth did you eat that?” What follows such a voice is usually feelings of the dreaded “g” word; not gulp or gosh but that useless emotion called guilt. Where did the guilt come from and why does it whisper in your ear just when you think you’ve beaten it into subordination? They are questions worth exploring for guilt may just be the reason why managing your body fat levels has become increasingly challenging over the years.
Adrenalin and cortisol are two stress hormones that play a variety of roles in our body. Read More
Serotonin-Melatonin See-Saw
Is this your typical day? Healthy breakfast, mid morning coffee, salad or sandwich for lunch… with probably something sweet to follow lunch… but other than that you are quite proud of yourself when you reflect on your food consumption so far for the day.
I now predict many of you fall into one of three categories. Do you: a) Hit mid-afternoon and eat anything and everything in sight and then spend the rest of the day berating yourself after such a great start? Or do you: b) Get so busy during the afternoon that food does not enter your head until you arrive home and a glass of white wine and possibly some cheese and crackers allows you to let out a sigh of relief that the day is winding down? Or do you: c) not do any of the above and the free for all starts after dinner, when you find yourself standing in front of the fridge or pantry saying to yourself “I want something. I don’t know what it is that I want but I want something. And maybe it’s in here!”. Or maybe you could tick all three of these boxes! Never fear, a new understanding is near. Read More
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are on the rise. The latest incidence rates have recently come from a Cambridge University study that found 1 in 60 children in the UK now have an ASD. They further explored this result and found that 1 in 38 boys are affected. The last studies to be done in New Zealand and Australia were conducted at the beginning of this decade and the incidence was estimated to be 1 in 100 to 150 children. Almost 10 years on, it is likely our rates now reflect UK numbers and these figures break my heart. Read More
The Hungry Hormones
If you are trying to stay in shape but face a daily battle with your appetite, don’t blame your willpower. Insulin and leptin are both powerful hormones that influence whether our appetites are raging or being somewhat more appropriate! Read More
The Role of Stress in Illness
The human brain is made up of three integrated parts. The first brain is the brain stem or reptile brain. This is the survival brain. It controls all functions responsible for our survival, as an individual and as a species. It controls such things as hunger, thirst, heartbeat, breathing, digestion, immunity and sex drive. It is the basic, primal part of us that is in all animals; give me food, give me shelter, let me reproduce! This part of the brain also initiates the fight or flight stress response. Read More
Stress Management Techniques
From the development of anxiety to a loss of appetite, high blood pressure to type 2 diabetes, it is well documented that stress can play a significant role. After exploring the mechanisms through which blood sugar and pressure can become elevated in a previous article, this piece explores a sample of lifestyle strategies and stress management techniques. Read More
Hair, Skin & Nails: From the Inside Out
When it comes to the old adage, you are what you eat, no statement is truer when it comes to our skin, hair and nails. No amount of smoke and mirror tactics can replace the gloss and shine that comes with the natural beauty of these features. Read More
What’s Really Eating You?
Negative emotions can lead us to over-consume – and it’s often food we know is bad for us. Dr Libby Weaver helps you identify your overeating triggers. Read More
