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Inflammation

Supporting your gut through cancer treatment: practical ways to feel better and recover.

A woman sitting on a couch, appearing distressed, with her hand on her forehead and another hand on her chest, indicating discomfort or anxiety.


One of the most common questions I hear in clinic is, “What can I do to help my digestion during treatment?”
It’s no surprise — cancer treatment can be incredibly tough on the gut. You might notice changes in appetite, reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, or just a general sense that your digestion isn’t working the way it usually does.



The good news is that there are gentle, practical things you can do to feel more comfortable and support your recovery. You don’t need a perfect diet or…

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Beating Cancer Fatigue: How to Support Recovery with Rest, Nutrition and Gentle Movement

Two jars of green smoothie with striped straws, surrounded by fresh cucumber and leafy greens on a wooden surface.


One of the most common and frustrating side effects of cancer treatment is fatigue — the kind that doesn’t always go away with a good night’s sleep. It can linger for weeks or months after treatment, leaving you feeling flat, foggy and frustrated.



Cancer-related fatigue is different from ordinary tiredness. It’s a whole-body exhaustion that affects your physical energy, mental focus, and motivation. The good news is that with the right mix of nutrition, gentle movement, supplements and resto…

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What are the best functional foods to reduce your recurrence risk ?



If you’re looking to lower the chances of cancer coming back, incorporating certain foods into your diet can be a helpful step. Some foods are packed with natural compounds that can support your body in ways beyond just basic nutrition. These foods, which are known as functional foods, may help reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, and promote healthy cell function—all things that can play a role in lowering the risk of cancer recurrence. While no food can replace medical treatments,…

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What is the Glymphatic System and how does it maintain your brain health?



Have you ever woken up feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep? Or perhaps after a workout, you noticed your mind feels clearer? This isn’t just a coincidence; it’s linked to something called the glymphatic system. Let’s dive into what it is, how it works, and how sleep, exercise, and nutrients can support it.



What is the Glymphatic System?



The glymphatic system is a waste clearance system in the brain. Think of it as your brain’s cleaning service. It helps remove toxins and waste prod…

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What the hell are senescent cells and why should I care ?

Christine Pope Naturopath


One intriguing aspect of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells—cells that have stopped dividing and in fact contribute to conditions that are associated with age-related decline. In this blog post, we’ll explore what senescent cells are, how they relate to aging, and which foods, including green tea, can help mitigate their effects.



What Are Senescent Cells?



Senescent cells are damaged or dysfunctional cells that have exited the cell cycle but do not undergo …

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How does chronic inflammation affect your skin?



A key factor in accelerating ageing is long term inflammation and it can be damaging both to our bodies and in particular to our skin. Inflammation is a complex defence mechanism in which white blood cells move from from the circulation into damaged tissues to destroy the agents that potentially may cause tissue injury. Acute inflammation is a helpful response, particularly during an infection, whereas chronic inflammation is persistent and can lead to tissue damage. 



What are the usual ind…

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Do you really understand how to use Probiotics and do strains matter ?



Do you think you have been fed a few misstatements about probiotics ? If you have been you probably aren't the only one! There were a few myths busted at a recent conference that I have also been guilty of believing in recent years. So what were those myths and what's the real story ?



Have you ever been told that your probiotics need to be kept in the fridge ? (Was it me?) Turns out that many strains are heat resistant and don't need to be kept in the fridge including the range from Activat…

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Are you missing out on ways that you can start ageing outrageously well ?



70 may be the new 50 but its possible that it won't be that enjoyable if you haven't looked after your physical health. Over the last decade through global challenges, like the Covid pandemic and personal challenges like three rounds of surgery I have been researching how to age well and there are some common themes.



In 2016 I was able to do the training on the Recode protocol, which was developed by Dr Dale Bredesen. The training was run in San Francisco (which was a very good reason for …

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Spring Reset Meal Plan



Do you enjoy doing a quiz to see how you are going with your health? As part of the Spring Reset program earlier this year we reviewed the need for a detox as well as providing a healthy meal plan to really get people started. The meal plan is included as a download at the end of this blog and I would love some feedback on how the recipes worked for you.



The end of lockdowns is an ideal time to look at a "reset" for your health and you will find the questionnaire really assists you in determ…

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Herbal teas for hydration



Most people know they need to be drinking adequate amounts of water however it can get difficult to keep levels up particularly in Winter when it is cold. Herbal teas can be a good way to keep up hydration and enjoy a warm drink at the same time.



First up did you know that white, oolong, green tea and black teas are all in the green tea family, the difference is in the degree of fermentation. Black tea is fermented and has a higher amount of caffeine as a result, but all of this family have…

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Reduce your breast cancer risk



Attending an Integrative Oncology conference online in June 2021 was an interesting experience. The organiser provided an extensive program looking at treatment options and naturopathic support. One in three people will develop cancer at some point and improvements in testing and treatment have resulted in significant improvements in survival rates with those for breast cancer increasing from 75% to 91% over the past twenty years.



In addition to medical treatment there is also useful researc…

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Therapeutic Juicing



Juicing is a useful way to increase nutrients in the diet and can also be used therapeutically. There are many foods which you can use with health benefits and a regular juice can be a good addition to your diet. It can also be a good way to get your three cups of vegetables daily. Here are three of my favourite combinations that you may find helpful.



Celery juice is known for its benefits in reducing fluid retention however what do you use if you can't stand celery? My first juice is a deli…

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