This post is personal. As a SIBO sufferer I am pretty passionate about getting the word out about this under-diagnosed IBS condition. It wrecked my life for 2 years, so I’m dedicating a three-part series to it, to give you the most up-to-date science and everything you need to know about what it is, and how to get started with testing and treatment so it doesn’t wreck yours.
Read MoreIf life gives you lemons, make a paleo lemon tart! There is a lot of love for all things lemon in our family. Particularly the baked goods variety. This recipe needs a fair bit of honey and coconut sugar so it's not recommended for anyone with inflammation or who is in the early phases of a gut healing protocol. But it is gluten and dairy free, paleo and SCD-friendly, so for everyone else, eat up!
Read MoreAnother celebration means another recipe creation! It was Father's Day here in Australia over the weekend just gone and Dad requested a challenge - Hummingbird Cake with lots of thick and creamy icing... So I delivered the gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, low-FODMAP and vegan version - just 'cause you're gut healing, doesn't mean you can't eat cake! And of course, it had to be delicious - Dad has a sweet tooth, after all.
Read MoreI talk about gut health a LOT... So you might be wondering just how healthy yours is. Especially because it has such a big impact on almost every aspect of our overall health, including our immune system, allergies and sensitivities, autoimmunity and even our weight. And while we can do proper functional lab tests to identify conditions like SIBO, Leaky Gut, dysbiosis and infections like parasites, candida and bad bacteria, there are a few DIY Gut Health Tests you can do at home to get an idea of the state of your gut health and see if there are clues about whether you need proper testing.
Read MoreWe were back on the gluten, dairy and egg-free baking bandwagon this week for my gorgeous Mumma's birthday - cupcakes were her request. We came up with a recipe that can be modified for the jaffa or espresso lovers out there. Or, you can just make them both!
Read MoreI don’t eat dairy. I don’t hate dairy either. It just doesn’t agree with me. But that wasn’t always the case. Six years ago I was drinking milk for breakfast, eating yoghurt for a morning snack and munching my way through multiple serves of cheese every day. But, I was also chronically constipated, had horrible skin and a constantly running nose.
Read MoreI am a sucker for the challenge of gluten, dairy and egg-free baking, creating options for my clients who are on gut-healing protocols. So, the next delicacy I wanted to conquer is the chewy and moist oatmeal cookie alternative that helps heal your gut with the addition of gelatin. I like mine plain and simple with... a turmeric latte of course!
Read MoreA Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) sucks. They are uncomfortable, painful and make it hard to keep up with everyday life. BUT, they are beatable and the good news is you can successfully get rid of a UTI without the gut-destroying antibiotics I once thought were my only option. And, I am going to share with you my approach to UTI treatment without antibiotics that actually works. It's an all natural protocol that I use with myself and my clients with great results.
Read MoreRock-cakes suck. And when it comes to allergy-friendly baking, it’s not just the gluten-free flour making life difficult. Whether you’re vegan, allergic or intolerant, baking without eggs is a challenge for achieving the right taste and texture that will test even the most seasoned master chef. But it’s a challenge that can be won. So I wanted to share everything I’ve learnt over the last decade, through trial and (lots of) error to make the transition to egg-free baking an enjoyable and eggcellent experience!
Read MoreIt is safe to say that pancakes are by far my favourite breakfast food. Growing up, we would hit Mum up for pancakes at all special occasions - birthdays, christmas, school holidays, weekends, hump day, Fridays... This basically meant that I had to nail a gluten, dairy and egg-free recipe ASAP. Here is an oldie, but a goodie, the world's easiest allergy-friendly pancake recipe.
Read MoreHaving travelled to over forty countries, including many in South-East Asia, Africa and South America, I (unfortunately) know a thing or two about Traveller’s Diarrhoea. Bali Belly, Thailand Trots, Montezuma’s Revenge... you name it, I’ve had it. Traveller’s Diarrhoea affects up to 50% of people holidaying abroad, so if you spend a bit of time overseas, chances are pretty high that you will get caught out at some stage (1). So how can you prevent Traveller’s Diarrhoea yourself naturally so you don’t end up wasting your holiday on the loo? Well, let’s find out!
Read MoreThe term ‘Adrenal Fatigue’ might have been thrown around a lot lately but that doesn’t mean the actual condition isn’t very real and very debilitating. While IBS-type symptoms let you know that your digestive system isn’t happy, the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue make you feel like you are falling off a cliff. You are tired, completely worn out and can’t retain your usual energy levels, no matter what you do. Through my own journey, and those of my clients, with both Adrenal Fatigue and IBS, I’ve learnt a lot about the often overlooked connection between these two misunderstood conditions.
Read MoreTwo parts science, one part ancient medicine and whole lot of parts deliciousness, turmeric lattes are my new favourite healthy alternative to the old evening hot chocolate. And maybe for some, a valid rival for coffee? Too far? Usually I’m not big on hot drinks, a hang up from growing up in muggy Queensland, but I found a new love recently when we were in chilly Sydney that HAD to be re-created.
Read MoreThe only thing more daunting than eating out, if you have food sensitivities or IBS, is eating out in a foreign city. But, if you are heading to Sydney, I’ve got you covered. After lots of menu research and plenty of taste-testing, here are four of my favourite gut and allergy-friendly places to eat while exploring this beautiful part of the world.
Read MoreHave you ever followed a healing diet like Paleo, SCD, GAPS or low-FODMAP to control your IBS symptoms? You might have felt great for a while, and then found that your gut symptoms came creeping back. And you felt like a complete failure because these diets are supposed to control IBS, right!?! What if I told you that no matter how perfectly you stick to that diet it isn’t going to work on its own if a hidden gut infection is the root cause of your IBS.
Read MoreI am a firm believer that everything should come in chocolate flavour, so the chia pudding received a make-over and it is chocolicious! Whip these banana choc chia puddings up for easy snacking during the week.
Read MoreWhile using antibiotics is never ideal, there can be times when they are absolutely essential. Like getting a UTI on day 2 of a 7 day boat cruise around the Galapagos! But don’t worry, if this is you, all hope is not lost. It’s likely to take time and little bit of effort, but there are proven things you can do both during and after antibiotic treatment to reduce the damage, avoid IBS flare-ups and follow-on conditions that come with having your gut destroyed by antibiotics.
Read MoreIt was a Tuesday afternoon and I should have been at work. Instead I was on the couch, again, in the fetal position feeling fatigued and crampy. The biggest question on my mind, “Why me? I’m trying so hard to do everything right!” I had started to rid my gut of a bunch of parasites and bad bacteria, and I was eating exceptionally healthy and hitting the gym (hard) 5-6 times a week. But gut healing just wasn’t happening and I’d added a ridiculous 10 kg’s and two stretchy-pants sizes in less than two months on my strict regime.
Read MoreI know, I know, the term ‘leaky gut’ sounds like something that happens after a dodgy vindaloo. But it’s just shorthand for what we call ‘intestinal hyper-permeability’, a hidden condition that is affecting millions of people and is responsible for a massive list of health conditions ranging from the less extreme bloating and gas, to eczema and skin rashes, to full-blown autoimmune conditions.
Read MoreI’ve been bugged by this for a while... So I decided it was time to do a little research for us all. What on Earth is this Human Microbiome and what does it have to do with our gut health?
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