The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus in the herpesvirus family, is a highly contagious and common infection in which over 90% of the population worldwide has been infected [1] — you may have already contracted the virus without even knowing it. Although EBV and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses, recent research suggests that inflammation…

Gilbert’s syndrome, pronounced jeel-bears, is a common, harmless liver condition in which the liver doesn’t properly process bilirubin. Although Gilbert’s syndrome does not usually cause serious problems and does not need treatment, you can avoid triggers that raise your bilirubin levels to keep jaundice, (the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), at…

Helicobacter pylori, known as H. pylori, is a pathogenic bacterium that lives in the gut of more that half the world’s population. It’s been around for at least 200,000 years and for most of us, at microscopic levels it causes no issues. However, 10 – 20 percent of people will develop unwanted symptoms from its…

Mercury toxicity and heavy metal toxicity are more common in Australia than one might think.  There are three common ways we are exposed to mercury – through dental fillings, ingestion of contaminated fish or occupational exposure. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers mercury as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of…

Breast augmentation is the most popular elective cosmetic surgical procedure in the world. Approximately 20,000 women undergo this procedure each year in Australia, with 75% for cosmetic augmentation and 25% for reconstruction after breast surgery, such as a mastectomy. [1] Although considered to be relatively safe by the mainstream medical community, a correlation between breast…

Gallbladder disease can include inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder. Gallstone disease is a very common problem in Australia, with around 25% of the population developing gallstones before the age of 50. Research tells us that inflammation in the gut and leaky gut can be caused by gallbladder issues, and in turn, poor…

We now know that the health of our gut microbiome is linked to our overall health and more and more research is revealing the extent of its importance for our immune system. In fact, about 70% of the body’s immune system is actually located in the gut, meaning that taking care of the good bacteria…

Both the functioning of the intestinal barrier and the gut microbiome impact the health of your gut, causing gut inflammation and a host of other issues throughout the body. A functional medicine health practitioner can get to the root cause, or causes, of your gut inflammation and help you to take steps to heal. Let’s…

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) has recently been discovered as having several health benefits as an anti-aging and longevity vitamin, including increasing energy, boosting cognitive health, reducing the risk of heart disease and promoting DNA repair, due to its ability to raise coenzyme NAD+ levels. So, what exactly is it, how does it work, and does it…

For the most part, we accept what’s handed to us genetically when it comes to our eyesight and the health of eyes. But are there some ways we can promote good eye health through a healthy diet, better lifestyle choices and some supportive supplements? The answer is yes! Common eye conditions The four most common…