Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are keys to your emotions, thoughts, memory and learning. Click here to read the full article, or scroll down to listen to the podcast on your favourite platform! The chemicals in our brains are the messengers that influence our minds and body. Various illnesses see unbalanced neurotransmitter levels, such as Parkinson’s … [Read more...]
Serotonin, Dopamine and norepinephrine and how they affect your day.
Brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine undoubtedly affect the quality of our day but did you know that we have frogs to thank for the first discovery of neurotransmitters in 1921? Austrian Nobel prize winner Otto Loewi’s inspiration to set up the groundbreaking experiment that discovered neurotransmitters came to him in a dream. A dream that would … [Read more...]
Article: What are spore-based probiotics, and how can they help?
Spore-based probiotics are genuinely a new category of their own, and they have multiple applications in helping people solve their digestive and gut issues. But what gives spore-based probiotics their name? Spore-based bacteria are better thought of as spore-forming bacteria. Spores are dormant life forms that have the ability to germinate or seed bacteria.[1] When … [Read more...]
Choline: the essential nutrient you need to know about
Choline sounds like chlorine; in contrast, it’s a nutrient essential for your brain, cardiovascular system and liver. If ever there was a nutrient that epitomised “is my diet enough?” then choline would at least be in the top two. In this article, we’re going to introduce why. For example, one study published in 2016 found that some of the population in the USA only … [Read more...]
Get to know your sleep cycles.
Sleep is important. We spend a third of our lives doing it. I don’t think you need me to tell you that. The last few years seem to have been characterised by every online expert offering everyday reminders. My particular favourite quote is from Professor Andrew Huberman. “If you want to know about someone’s health, ask them how they sleep.” It doesn’t end … [Read more...]
Most Prescribed: Saffron for Mental Health
Those who know me well, both personally and professionally, know two things. The first is that everything is "my favourite", and the second is that I love prescribing saffron clinically for mental health. The story of my love affair with saffron began almost ten years ago. On a whim, I travelled interstate to Sydney to attend an informal fireside chat with two world leaders … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 48: Is your blood sugar affecting your anxiety and depression?
Suppose the causes that affect your depression and anxiety may not be what you expect? In this Free and Inspired radio episode, learn how your blood sugar might affect your mood and anxiety. Personal responsibility disclaimer: If there comes a time when you feel like it is difficult for you to take action and the quality of your day is declining rapidly, then getting some … [Read more...]
Your blood sugar can influence your mood and anxiety levels.
Sixty per cent of people with depression still do not seek medical help because of the social stigma around its perceived hindrance to their career or personal life.[1] Suppose you are one of those sixty per cent. In that case, managing your blood sugar and exercise could be two lifestyle choices that can begin your journey towards feeling better, especially if you are … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 47: A Beginner’s Guide to Probiotics – Part 2
Welcome to part two of one of the most downloaded Free and Inspired radio episodes – A Beginner’s Guide to probiotics. In part one of the guide, which you can listen to here, find out what a probiotic is and some tips and tricks to get started if you’ve never taken them. In this episode, discover some of the conditions where probiotics have evidence behind them and where … [Read more...]
How to choose the right probiotic for you.
Is there a way to choose the right probiotic for you? The value of the global probiotics market in 2021 was just under sixty billion US dollars.[1] That’s a lot of options when it comes to choosing the right probiotic for you. A basic search for probiotics on iHerb, the popular online supplement retailer, can deliver up to five hundred confusing options. For example, … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 46: Vitamin D for IBS, sleep and depression.
We're diving deeper into Vitamin D in this Free and Inspired Radio episode. We all know it is for bone health, but what about IBS, depression, sleep and protection from viral infections? Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Hong Kong. Mainly due to the climate, estimates are between sixty to seventy per cent of Hong Kong residents are deficient. This … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 45: Neuroinflammation – its symptoms and causes.
Neuroinflammation is one of the clearest connections between the gut, brain, and immune system. Neuroinflammation is a broad term for an inflammatory response in the brain or the spinal cord. There could be a different name for neuroinflammation - a hot brain. Learn more about how the immune system uses inflammation to activate and direct itself to critical areas … [Read more...]
What is neuroinflammation, its symptoms and its causes?
Neuroinflammation is a broad term for an inflammatory response in the brain or the spinal cord.[1] I have a different name for it—a hot brain. One of most people’s first experiences of neuroinflammation is when they get the flu. When we get sick, the immune system uses inflammation to mobilise or activate its different components to respond to the … [Read more...]
FIR Episode 40: Herbs and Supplements for Poor Sleep
Although the prevalence of insomnia in Hong Kong is high, out of four thousand five hundred people surveyed, only forty per cent of adults and ten per cent of children and teenagers sought help to fix it. Let alone tried herbs or supplements for sleep. That’s sixty per cent of people, or six out of ten, experiencing less than optimal sleep in Hong Kong. This deficit … [Read more...]
Article: Is coffee good for you?
Most people think they should stop drinking coffee. In my clinic, it belongs to the holy triad of things people think they should cut down or quit when they aren’t feeling optimal. It’s either red meat, alcohol or coffee that gets the chop if things are going well. Contrary to my article on alcohol (spoiler alert: it’s not good for you), I’m here to offer a somewhat … [Read more...]