Author: Danielle Lamb

Nutrition support for women can be as essential as the air we breathe when it comes to supporting hormones.

If you are a woman, at some point in your life, you have likely felt the effects that hormones can have on your overall health. From pre-puberty, pregnancy, right through to post-menopause, our hormones are continuously changing. Balancing hormones in the 21^st century can be challenging. Every day, we are exposed to external hormone disrupting products including chemicals, medications, household items such as plastic containers and cleaning products, food and the chemicals in and on food.

Not only this, but we are also challenged with genetics and the seemingly never-ending stressors that surround us, sending our hormones into a constant state of turmoil. In clinic, I regularly see women seeking out nutrition support for the many different symptoms of hormone imbalance, particularly during perimenopause and menopause.

Adequate nutrition support holds great value in the management of perimenopausal symptoms. Nourishing the body with the correct and specific foods and nutrients that support perimenopause fuels the mechanisms that regulate symptoms. Symptoms that can be managed by good nutrition support for women with perimenopause include:

• Healthy mood regulation (anxiety, irritability)
• Blood glucose balance
• Weight management
• Managing irregular periods
• Insomnia
• Night sweats and hot flashes
• Headaches
• Brain fog
• Vaginal dryness
• Changes to skin/hair
• Joint/muscle aches and pains
• Libido changes

Nutrition Support for Women – Perimenopause Foods

Nutritional balance that is suited to the individual is the primary goal of nutrition support in perimenopause. However, specific natural plan compounds known as phytoestrogens can play an important role in balancing hormones more closely. The careful introduction of phytoestrogenic foods can interact with the body’s oestrogen receptors. This interaction helps to balance hormones, notably oestrogen in a natural way rather than introducing overwhelming amounts of artificial hormones. The result is fewer side effects with improved overall symptoms.

The Highs and Lows of Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a tricky time for your hormones. At times, oestrogen is low, and this is where phytoestrogens gently stimulate those receptors to reduce symptoms such as vaginal dryness, mood and poor sleep. At other times, oestrogen can be too high. Phytoestrogens are clever here, as they adapt and compete with natural body oestrogen to reduce overstimulation. Symptoms reduced during this time include breast tenderness, heavy menstruation and uncomfortable bloating.

More Phytoestrogen Food Magic for Perimenopause

Possibly one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is the ghastly hot flash that often spills over to night sweats. This is a vasomotor response that affects thermoregulation due to the drop in oestrogen. Over time, phytoestrogens can help to naturally regulate this response to make life that much more comfortable.

Perhaps a more intimate symptom of menopause is vaginal dryness. Perimenopause foods help to hydrate tissues that often dry and become thin when oestrogen is low. This can put you at risk of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) and irritation.

Perimenopause foods including phytoestrogen help those happy hormones thrive. Oestrogen helps the production and function of happy hormones serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine. Using phytoestrogens and other neurotransmitter supporting nutrients, moods can be better managed, improving overall quality of life.

It doesn’t stop there, oestrogen plays a role in regulating cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol. This is why, many women of perimenopausal and menopausal age often see changes to their cardiovascular health. Perimenopause foods can help to reduce LDL cholesterol while also balancing blood glucose levels, blood pressure and body weight.

There are More to Perimenopause Foods than Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens might be the golden compound supporting Perimenopausal symptoms, however, there are several other nutrients that are essential when supporting hormonal transitions.

Reductions in oestrogen can alter bone density and muscle mass. This can place women at risk of osteoporosis if not supported nutritionally. Carefully balanced calcium, vitamin D and other bone mineralising nutrients are vital to maintaining bone health as you age.

Protein becomes more important through this transitionary stage to reduce muscle wastage (known as sarcopenia) which, when paired with reduced bone density, can put perimenopausal women at risk of falls and fractures and metabolic disorders. Protein is a building block to many functions of the body including neurotransmitter production and function. Adequate protein with the right balance of amino acids can go a long way to improving mood and supporting sleep.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats that protect the body from oxidative damage that is natural to the aging process. They are also responsible for reducing inflammation, support healthy brain function and reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Fibre is often thought of as reducing constipation and not much more. However, fibre offers so much more to our health than a good bowel motion. The microbiome rely on fibre for energy and to carry out many of their functions such as making hormones, breaking down foods for nutrients and hormones into more manageable forms. Fibre also supports the metabolic system by managing blood glucose levels for weight management and hunger reduction.  

It’s a Balancing Act

To effectively manage weight and overall cardiovascular health as well as support all of the above symptoms, perimenopausal food prescription should be individualised to each person and their unique set of symptoms, health history, lifestyle factors and body types. Just as not enough of a good thing can be detrimental, so too can too much of a good thing. This is where a qualified nutritionist comes in. Together, we work to balancing out foods that are supportive of your body and life changes.

Focusing on the Gut

During perimenopause, changes to hormones also affect the health of the gut. You may have heard of the gut-brain axis, but did you know there is also a gut-hormone axis. This interconnected system is impacted by and impacts in itself the diversity of the microbiome, bowel frequency and the metabolism of oestrogen by the microbiome. Many peri-menopausal when that I see present with gut symptoms in one form or another. This can include bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, reflux and food intolerances among other symptoms. Treating the gut often results in improvements in peri-menopausal symptoms. This isn’t as simple as including a probiotic. Gut treatments vary and can include specific prebiotic fibres, specific strain probiotics, anti-inflammatory perimenopause foods, microbiome testing, dietary eliminations and re-challenges and more.

The change of life can be overwhelming for many women. It is no wonder, with the various physiological happenings going on in the body during this notable time in your life. It takes a great understanding of the body, supportive but balanced nutrients and food as well as care and empathy for you as an individual to nurture and support you through this transitionary phase.

What can you expect from a Nutrition Consult?

You’ve taken the first steps in searching for a local nutrition consult on the gold coast. Now you’re wondering what exactly you can expect from your planned nutrition consult. Read on to find out.

Personalised Nutrition Consults

During a nutrition consult at Beta Me Nutrition & Naturopathy, you will come to understand that your body and its needs are unique to you. While you may present with a similar health concern to one or several other patients, the treatment for you will be completely different. This is because, as a holistic nutritionist, I look at you as a whole person, not only your primary symptom presentation. This allows an understanding of underlying causes and potential deficiencies in your pathology or diet. From here, how to personalise your nutrition treatment plan based on the whole picture becomes clearer.

When personalising Nutrition plans, considerations such as:

• Family history
• Personal medical history
• Current food diary
• Previous eating habits
• Deficiencies, both dietary and within pathology
• Lifestyle
• Pathology
• Your stress levels
• Exercise levels
• Your financial situation
• Goals and timelines to achieve those goals

As you can imagine, each of these points vary greatly for every person. Because of this the personalisation process is essential in successful outcomes.

The result of an individualised nutrition consult and treatment are personalised eating plans that suit your unique and specific needs. These personalised eating plans are focused on working for you. With your lifestyle and commitments in mind together, we adapt strategies to make them easier to follow and adhere to.

Local Knowledge Understanding and Support

Having a local nutrition consult in your Gold Coast area can greatly benefit treatment outcomes. A nutrition practitioner with local area knowledge ensures an understanding of the best qualities of the Gold Coast. This includes knowing how to access healthy foods such as supermarkets with specific food items and the best markets to save money and improve nutrition quality. From a holistic perspective, having knowledge of local allied health practitioners to support treatments can be of great value.

When considering this wonderful place we call home here on the Gold Coast, the lifestyle in which we live must be factored into your care. Many people living on the Gold Coast enjoy the sun, surf and the mountains. However, we are also hard working. In clinic, I frequently see shift workers, those who actively engage in outdoor activities for work or leisure and have busy family routines present for nutritional guidance to support the lifestyle they live. We are lucky to have some of the best markets, access to fresh produce, seafood and dining out options. Knowledge of what’s available to the Gold Coast community makes continuing to live the magical Gold Coast lifestyle, while remaining healthy and focused on your goals simple.

What Does an Initial Nutrition Consult Involve?

During your first nutrition consult, together we will delve deep into your health history. The aim is to uncover any hidden causes and triggers of your presentation. We go as far back as birth in some cases. Our birth and life tell us a story of your health as it presents today. This health history will include your own, as well as any significant health related information in your family.

Your current medication and supplement regime is discussed in detail. This includes brand names and dosing to determine necessity, efficacy, quality and possible interactions. Of course, we will discuss your symptoms or condition in detail as well as set our goals with timelines to strive for.

Prior to the appointment, you will be asked to complete a food diary and email pathology to discuss during the consult. As a result, some on the spot suggestions regarding diet and lifestyle can be provided to begin improving overall nutritional intake.

From there, your practitioner will wave you off with a friendly smile and a promise to put together a detailed, yet easy to follow plan to follow over the coming days. A full treatment plan is developed after the nutrition consult has ended. This allows the coordination of all elements of your health, pathology, dietary intake, medications and supplement needs, ensuring your plan is right for you.

Continuity of Care

After the initial nutrition consult, where your current health status has been benchmarked, these benchmarks are used to track and guide follow up appointments. Follow up appointments are usually scheduled for 2 weeks after your initial nutrition consult.

Realistic Expectations

Change takes time. It can be difficult to implement even the smallest changes. Having access to a nutritionist who understands that and can gently motivate you towards reaching goals is paramount to success. At every stage of your journey, your nutrition practitioner will set realistic expectations that you both agree on. This means working at your pace with gradual yet sustainable changes that seamlessly become part of life.

Nutrition is Important at Every Life stage

Whether you are pregnant, have just had your baby and are in your postpartum period, an active adult, a teenager with neurodiversity or an older adult with chronic diseases and many pharmaceutical medications, nutrition is important to everyone, and requirements are unique to everyone. Advice should always be tailored to your biological, economic and lifestyle needs.

Best Naturopathic Clinic Gold Coast – What to look for…

When looking for the best Naturopathic Clinic on the Gold Coast, you may set out to Google accredited Naturopaths near me. Though, when looking deeper into each website, it can become overwhelming when deciding who truly fits with you. When you start your Google search, you might start with ‘Best Naturopathic Clinic Gold Coast’. You’ve taken the first steps and are rewarded with a list of results. What comes next?

What to Look for in a Gold Coast Naturopathic Clinic?

One of the most important factors when making your decision on a Gold Coast Naturopathic Clinic is ensuring the clinic has accredited naturopaths. At a minimum, a qualified Naturopath should have a quality higher education bachelor’s degree, and experience in clinical practice. As an accredited Naturopath, I believe qualification, and experience combined with someone who adopts a person-centred approach and, who takes the time to really understand you. You, as an individual, as a whole person rather than a set of symptoms can go a long way to truly grasping what your health needs are.

Naturopathic Experience Matters

While a credible qualification is certainly essential for setting the foundations for ethical and effective health care, nothing beats experience. After 12 years in the industry in varying roles, I take pride in the experience I have obtained. From working with Pharmacists to determine effective prescriptions for patients with a wide range of conditions and economical circumstances, to being part of a research team in the production of Naturopathic products, to engaging in private practice. The experiences I have taken with me along the way have shaped me into the dedicated practitioner I am today.

Special Interests and Clinical Experience

Naturopath’s can support many ailments, however, usually there is a special interest and area of expertise, here are mine:

• gut conditions
• anxiety, depression, low energy
• hormone management
• metabolic and inflammatory conditions.

I have worked extensively in disability, particularly in the areas of neurodiversity including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ADHD and their associated health challenges.

What Qualifications should an accredited Naturopath have?

Did you know that anyone can call themselves a Naturopath in Australia? The term is not protected here in Australia, so anyone who has completed a short course, can, call themselves a Naturopath despite having limited scientific and clinical practice training. Why is this a problem? This can be dangerous when we factor in chronic diseases, potential pharmaceutical interactions and ethical practices. Any Naturopath you choose to work with should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in naturopathy and be part of a membership body that requires a higher standard of practice.

When I was completing my bachelor’s degree, I was required to undertake 1,280 hours of client facing clinical practice. This provided in depth experience in prescriptions, managing interactions and supporting a wide range of health conditions with people of all ages. This was completed under the supervision of highly experienced Naturopath’s. The depths of my theoretical health science studies, combined with the clinical practice experience gave me the confidence to effectively treat the patients I see today.

Beyond formal qualifications, your chosen Naturopath should engage in Continued Professional Education (CPE). CPE maintains knowledge of the latest scientific evidence with the health industry as a whole, but particularly in the scope of herbal and nutritional prescribing and naturopathic and mainstream treatments of health conditions. Lifelong learning is not only a requirement to be part of an association, it continues to drive a practitioners passion for their work and supporting the people they treat.

What does a Qualified Naturopath do?

A Qualified Naturopath will use evidence-based practice to treat your presentation. The philosophy in treating Naturopathically is to ‘treat the whole person’ and ‘identify and treat the cause’. The body is deeply connected. When one organ or body system is ailing, other parts of the body are likely ailing too. It is my job as a Qualified Naturopath to investigate, identify and support the whole body to bring the ailing parts to an equilibrium. While there is some work on symptom management, ideally, treating the underlying cause is the focus of treatments.

Taking Your Case

From your initial case, you will feel completely heard and understood with a thorough health history taken across 90 minutes. Everything from your nutritional intake, pathology review, your lifestyle, family history to considering how your medications support or play into your presentation. As well as the effectiveness or requirement of any herbs or supplements and their possible interactions with prescribed medications.  

Evidence-Based Prescribing

All food, herbal and nutrient prescriptions are based on evidence-based prescribing combined with clinical experience. Because everyone is different, a qualified naturopath will tweak herbal and nutrient prescriptions to meet your presentation to adjusted to improve effectiveness or adjust down or pivot where improvements are seen.

Less is More

When you are working with a qualified and ethical naturopath, less is more. This means that a good prescription that requires less herbal/nutrient medicine for the most effect. An ethical naturopath’s goal is to aim to have patients on herbal medicines only for the time it takes to support or manage a presenting condition. The ultimate aim is to not need any herbal/nutrient medications at all by the completion of treatment. While this is not always possible for every presentation, it is strived for to allow the body to learn the heal and regulate itself and to conserve finances for the patient.

Why Choose a Local Gold Coast Based Nutritionist?

A Gold Coast local Naturopath has a good knowledge of local allied health practitioners who may compliment your care. With this knowledge, referrals based on their effectiveness and quality of care can be provided in support of treatment outcomes.

A Gold Coast based Naturopathic Clinic can help coordinate several aspects of your health with other care providers to streamline your journey. The Gold Coast is a beautiful place to live. As a local, I love to utilise the strengths of this beautiful coastal city to advantage my local patients in all things health and wellness. It is undeniable that an understanding of access to local foods and prescriptions, the local lifestyle and weather as well as health trends can improve the overall value of your treatment.

Complete Transparency

When you commit to working with a Naturopath, you are committing yourself physically, mentally and financially. Having complete transparency in your treatment can relieve some of this burden. Before your consultation, you will be advised via email of expected fees. During your initial consultation, together, we will discuss expected treatment timelines, your own budget constraints and herbal medicine options while ensuring that there will be no expectations or over-prescribing.

Using Functional Testing to Guide Treatments

Along the way, functional testing can help to create benchmarks and guide ongoing treatment as well as advise on effectiveness of nutritional and herbal protocols. Functional testing can support treatments associated with:

• Gut conditions such as, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Ulcerative Colitis, Coeliac Disease, SIBO, Crohn’s, Absorption Issues, Constipation, Diarrhoea, food intolerances, Candida (thrush).
• Hormonal conditions including, male and female (PCOS, Endo, Low Testosterone, Menopause/Perimenopause)
• Fatigue, Low Energy and Stress Hormones
• Metabolic Conditions
• Inflammatory Conditions
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Methylation issues

Making Treatment Plans that Suit You

When it comes to treatment plans, in my experience, everyone learns and responds differently to different strategies. Some people thrive off a very detailed and complete treatment plan. This plan type provides strategies they can work towards and tweak as needed across follow up appointments. This allows them to see the bigger picture and tick off goals at their own pace.

Others find it easier to be drip fed information, with just a few goals to focus each week and build on the treatment as time goes on.

There is no right or wrong. I adapt my style to suit your needs, learning and commitment capacity. This ensures you get the most out of your treatments. What I do promise is every treatment plan is practical, individualised to suit preferences and lifestyle and realistic with effectiveness tracking. Together we ensure your treatments are working for YOU, not what should work for MOST people.

What You Should AVOID When Choosing a Naturopath

There are some red flags when it comes to choosing the right Naturopath. No credible qualifications, remember, the minimum should be a bachelor’s degree in health science naturopathy. Guaranteed cures, no one should be claiming to ‘cure’ anything. This is simply unethical. If you are being prescribed any multilevel marketing products or in any chase prescribed excessive amounts of herbals or nutritional supplements.

Preparing Yourself for an Initial Consultation with a Naturopath

Having the tools needed for a smooth initial consultation can help to streamline the time it takes to receive your treatment plan and allow your Naturopath to provide some on the spot pointers. Firstly, ensure your intake forms are complete before entering the consultation. This will include:

• Patient Intake Form
• Food diary
• Consent forms

Paper forms are available; however, I find electronic forms to be a quick and easy way to have everything pre-done. This allows you to concentrate on your consultation when you get to your appointment. Secondly, have any recent pathology ready and available to show your Naturopath. You can also email these prior to your appointment. Next, leave the needs of your work and family at the door for the 90 minutes, switch off your phone and allow the time to be completely about YOU.

NDIS Nutritionist With Experience

After supporting many NDIS participants over the past 7 years, as a NDIS Nutritionist, I have come to recognise the importance of quality supports and their understanding of the NDIS space. For those utilising their NDIS funding, the value of those supports can be life changing.

Just as NDIS participants are each unique, with their own individual goals and aspirations for improving their quality of life, independence and capacities, the way in which their funding can be used is also unique and requires understanding.

Why work with a Gold Coast Nutritionist who understands NDIS?

Though the NDIS is a great tool for providing access to valuable supports for NDIS participants, it can be a difficult program to navigate. Not only is it a challenging to navigate, it is regularly changing. This can make coordinating supports difficult. Utilising a Gold Coast Nutritionist who is familiar with the workings of the NDIS and the importance placed on goals and accessing funding to meet those goals is important. At Beta Me Nutrition I can work with your support coordinators or the person managing your plan and funding to align your nutrition services with your NDIS goals. At your representative’s request, I will prepare progress notes and reports required by NDIS and ensure your funding is directed to the best nutritional supports for your needs.

Good nutrition is a foundational requirement in a person’s life. Due to higher need, people living with disability place additional importance on fuelling their body. Nutrition is well recognised for improving everything from mental alertness and cognition, physical capacity, energy levels, disease prevention and symptom reduction. Though accessing and understanding good nutrition does not always come easy to those with disabilities or their supports.

Often individual disabilities present with a snowball of health concerns. This can include medications, fatigue, mobility limitations and sensory sensitivities that NDIS supports and participants are all too familiar with. Poor nutritional input can add to these complications. That’s where a trained Clinical Nutritionist who understands NDIS comes in.

At Beta Me Nutrition, I support Gold Coast NDIS Participants in working towards their goals including capacity building, independent living and improved daily living and health goals.

Understand the Role of An NDIS Nutritionist

NDIS Support & Funded Care allows access to an NDIS Nutritionist with services that align with a participant’s goals. Goals may may include:

• meal planning
• food education
• health consultation
• individual cooking preparation and demonstration sessions in the home
• coordination, consultation and meetings with primary supports to implement strategies where disability limits participants from doing so themselves, such as 24 hour home care environments.

The primary responsibility of an NDIS Nutritionist is to improve dietary intake and food interest, encourage healthy food relationships, support the management of any health concerns and improve independence within the scope of nutritional science, food and lifestyle strategies.

Understanding the Participant

Just as every person in the world is unique, with different requirements for health and preferences, so too are NDIS participants. A NDIS Nutritionist understands and respects these differences and works with the participant and/or supports to improve nutritional requirements within the realms of these choices and/or support the paced introduction of food variety.

Helping participants to build confidence in their dietary choices, educating them on how their choices support or hider their health goals and helping to build a healthy and happy relationship with food remains a focus throughout the funded health program.

How can an NDIS Nutritionist help you or your participant?

• Provide personalised meal plans targeted at NDIS approved goals and personal preferences/requirements.
• Support weight management, where it supports improved daily living, disease prevention and disability management.
• Provide digestive support, for common issues associated with disability or medications such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, reflux or IBS.
• Implement behavioural or sensory sensitivity strategies such as those experienced in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD or other feeding aversions.
• Food Preparation Education including guidance and support in preparing and cooking meals/snacks and safe food storage.
• Coordinated care with other supports such as health professionals, carers and/or family to ensure quality and consistent care and understanding.

What does an NDIS Nutrition Appointment Look Like?

Appointments vary depending on the need of the participant. However, all participants begin with an Initial Assessment to determine their needs, goals, health requirements and preferences. 

Based on this information, if the participant chooses to engage in Cooking Meal Preparation, Education and Demonstrations, a menu plan will be put together for each session. Recipes are emailed to the participant or their representative who are responsible for purchasing ingredients.

Participants are provided with laminated copies of each recipe at the time of the appointment. These can be filed to prepare at a later date if they feel confident enough and are capable of building on their independence.

During cooking sessions, depending on the participants capacity, I guide them through preparation. This includes hygiene and food handling, safe cutting, grating and cooking skills. Nutritional education points on ingredients are discussed throughout. Safe storage and labelling is demonstrated and implemented with resources if required and kitchen clean-up finalises the session.

Cooking appointments are generally spaced out 2 weeks apart and each session will run for 2 hours. 

Common Disabilities and Associated Conditions Supported by an NDIS Nutritionist:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated presentations.
• ADHD
• Intellectual and Developmental disability
• Constipation
• Diabetes
• Chronic pain
• Fatigue
• Insomnia and sleeplessness
• Mobility disabilities
• Anxiety and depression

How can you or your participant access NDIS Health Funded Programs?

Nutrition services can be NDIS funded under various categories which largely depend on goals and the supports required. The most commonly accessed categories for Nutrition services include:

• Capacity Building – Health and Wellbeing
• Improved Daily Living Skills
• Core Supports

Are you unsure of which category is most suited to your plan? Contact your Support Coordinator and direct them to Danielle at Beta Me Nutrition. We can discuss this and implement the required service agreements.

Why Choose Danielle & Beta Me Nutrition as your NDIS Nutritionist?

• Gold Coast Nutritionist who understands NDIS. 7 years of experience working with self-managed and plan managed participants across the Gold Coast with Australia (via Telehealth).
• Coordinated Care. I work with the care support team to ensure consistency of care.
• Person-centred and Evidence-based practice. Treatments are guided by the most up to date nutritional evidence and focus on the individual needs of the participant.
• Empathy and compassion. I’m often praised for the level of care and compassion that I show which is always judgment free and understanding.

As a Clinical Nutritionist, I take a person-centred and individualised approach to supporting the people I work with. Our work together focuses not only on diet but also on stress, sleep, medication impact, digestion, energy and daily living routines that may change eating behaviours and choices.

Improve Yours or Your Participants Health & Wellbeing today

You’ve found a compassionate, experienced, knowledgeable and supportive NDIS funded health program with a Nutritionist that understand NDIS and the unique requirements of individual participants, local to the Gold Coast. All there is to do now is start the booking process.