Connecting women, science and spirit, the Gynelogic Sunday Supplement delivers a bi-monthly dose of news, views and reviews, as seen through my lady lens.
DECEMBER 24, 2023
This holiday season there’s one gift I’m giving myself – the gift of rest. And I encourage you to do the same!
Over this past year, I’ve walked beside nearly 150 remarkable women as a partner on their health journeys, holding space during almost 600 consultations. Together, we navigated highs and lows, forged ahead through challenges, and celebrated triumphs. Most inspiring has been witnessing over 90% reach their goals: freedom from pain, balanced hormones, proper nutrition, boundless energy and restful sleep. By wholeheartedly committing to their own self-care, these courageous women have also cultivated vitality for their lucky families.
A standout highlight of the year was supporting a group of inspirational women through my 6 week online menopause course. Through the power of nutrition alone, every woman achieved her goals of reversing hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, brain fog and fatigue, as well as releasing stubborn weight gain. These incredible permanent changes (and without the need for any hormones) create a empowering and solid foundation for health in mid life and beyond. On the back of this program, next year I’m hoping to finish writing my book explaining what menopause is, why symptoms happen, and how to tap into nutrition to reverse all the problems and make this 3rd stage of life truly aligned with our soulful selves.
In the new year I’m thrilled to be supporting holistic renewal through my 7 Day Detox Program, launching January 14th. This much loved tried-and-tested cleanse will reset digestion, boost energy, and prime you for health as we step into a fresh start together. Expect an email from me the first week of 2024 with details on the detox and other support to align with your best self this year ahead.
I’m sure that like me, with each passing day over the last year, you’ve grown, adapted, and forged ahead, wearing multiple hats and juggling countless responsibilities. Now, as the year winds down and the festive spirit envelops us, it’s the perfect time to hit the pause button, reflect on our journey, and truly relish the magic of the season.
So, here’s a heartfelt wish to you:
May your days be merry and bright, filled with love, joy, and endless wonder. May you indulge in your favourite festive treats without a smidge of guilt. May you dance in your living room, sing out of tune, and watch those classic holiday movies wrapped in a cozy blanket. But most of all, may you gift yourself the time to relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice in the simple pleasures.
Thank you for being a part of my journey this year, and for being part of this community. Here’s to good health, boundless happiness, and a holiday season that warms the heart and soothes the soul.
Happy holidays, from my heart to yours 🎄✨🥂
With love and festive cheer,
Sandra
DECEMBER 11, 2023
Apologies for this edition not continuing the theme and reviewing PMDD, PCOS and menopause – what with my daughter’s birthday celebrations, client work and life glitches, the time just ran away with me.
I will definitely be reviewing PMDD, PCOS and menopause in the new year, but in the meantime I am sharing my favourite books of 2023. Some of them were published this year, and some are old favourites that still dip into from time to time. All of them have made an impact on my life, my work and how I support my client’s health.
I have always believed that the answers to questions can be found in a book, because someone, somewhere, has spent time figuring out the answers to complicated questions and shared their immense knowledge with the world.
I hope you will find them interesting, let me know if you do!
NOVEMBER 26, 2023
As we’re coming to the year’s end, I am writing a round-up of the latest research into key gynaecological conditions. In this edition of the newsletter I am focusing on fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis, and in the next newsletter I will be discussing polycystic ovary syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and the symptoms of menopause. If I have time I’ll squeeze in premenstrual tension!
Fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis are common gynecological conditions affecting women, often leading to confusion due to their overlapping symptoms. All three are uterine related, are associated with oestrogen and can cause pain, heavy bleeding and infertility. Despite their similarities, they have distinct characteristics, metabolic development and impacts on health.
Understanding the distinct nature of fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis is vital for effective management and treatment. I’ve had both the intensely heavy bleeding of fibroids and the unrelenting severe pain of adenomyosis so I know how debilitating they can be but I also know from personal experience and from working with clients that these can be managed very well with targeted approaches involving nutrition, supplements and lifestyle upgrades.
This series aims to shed light on the latest research and advancements in understanding and treating these conditions with a body-positive approach. I hope it will give insight into how I approach the resolution of these conditions and provide you with effective alternatives to hormone-blocking drugs and even surgery.
NOVEMBER 12, 2023
The winter season brings unique challenges for maintaining wellness. Shorter daylight hours can drain our mood and disrupt circadian rhythms. Dry indoor air, freezing temperatures outdoors, and being cooped up inside more often can take a toll on our mind and body.
For us, the impact of winter on health can be particularly pronounced. Shifting hormone levels, greater susceptibility to seasonal affective disorder, and increased inflammation cause many of us to suffer more pain, depression and disturbed sleep during the colder months.
Despite our best cold-weather wellness efforts, some of us will also inevitably get sidelined by a viral infection like Covid, influenza, norovirus or the common cold at some point during winter. In this edition of the Sunday Supplement I have covered strategies to prime your immune system and how to prepare for viral infections, as well as how to beat winter blues and rev up your metabolism to prevent winter weight gain.
We may not be able to make winter magically warmer, but we can definitely make it healthier. Join me as we turn seasonal suffering into smooth winter sailing!
October 29, 2023
The winter season brings unique challenges for maintaining wellness. Shorter daylight hours can drain our mood and disrupt circadian rhythms. Dry indoor air, freezing temperatures outdoors, and being cooped up inside more often can take a toll on our mind and body.
For us, the impact of winter on health can be particularly pronounced. Shifting hormone levels, greater susceptibility to seasonal affective disorder, and increased inflammation cause many of us to suffer more pain, depression and disturbed sleep during the colder months.
Despite our best cold-weather wellness efforts, some of us will also inevitably get sidelined by a viral infection like Covid, influenza, norovirus or the common cold at some point during winter. In this edition of the Sunday Supplement I have covered strategies to prime your immune system and how to prepare for viral infections, as well as how to beat winter blues and rev up your metabolism to prevent winter weight gain.
We may not be able to make winter magically warmer, but we can definitely make it healthier. Join me as we turn seasonal suffering into smooth winter sailing!
October 18, 2023
WMD began in 2019, to raise awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. Awareness raising is crucial for us to not feel alone with the life impacting symptoms of menopause, but it can also create fear and expectation of the misery to come.
That’s certainly how I felt when I found out about menopause 13 years ago. Having fought my way through periods so bad I was flooding, as well as fibroids and adenomyosis, I was devastated to discover that what’s coming next are hot flushes, nigh sweats, weight gain and another 30+ symptoms. The scariest one of all was brain fog. BRAIN FOG!!! I was in the middle of my functional medicine training and looming over the me was the prospect of losing my memory, and perhaps eventually my whole mind.
At first I thought that surely the solutions to this bleak future already exist, but all I found was HRT. For lots of reasons I knew I wouldn’t do HRT, but mainly because I couldn’t understand the rationale of forcing oestrogen into my body and my brain when millions of years of evolution have programmed an oestrogen decline. I instinctively knew that it’s not the oestrogen that’s the problem – it’s what oestrogen has stopped doing that will be the root cause. Unfortunately all the research said one one – it’s the oestrogen stupid.
I would lie in bed at night with what felt like a stone pressing on my chest feeling incredible fear and wondering whether I should give up my training if I’m going to lose my precious brain power in a few years. Until one day I woke up and decided it’s not going to beat me – I’d succeeded in clearing my psoriasis with nutrition years ago when functional medicine didn’t even exist, I was training to be a functional medicine practitioner and I still had a few years before all hell broke loose.
3 years later, I did figure out, I haven’t had ANY symptoms, my brain is better than ever and it’s my absolute pleasure to be celebrating World Menopause Day this year, knowing that not only can I raise awareness of menopause but that I can also provide the definitive solution to reversing – and avoiding – all the menopausal symptoms that women all around the world can access.
I have created the Menopause Core Nutrition Solution online program for this purpose and I hope you will join me there if you’re suffering through menopause and you’re looking for explanations and a solution that doesn’t include trying to increase oestrogen when our bodies are programmed to be getting rid of it.
I hope you have a great World Menopause Day, but if not, please know that you have options that don’t include HRT. Because HRT turned out to be not a solution, but a different kind of WMD – a Weapon of Mass Distraction.
Connecting women, science and spirit, the Gynelogic Sunday Supplement delivers a bi-monthly dose of news, views and reviews, as seen through my lady lens.
Connecting women, science and spirit, the Gynelogic Sunday Supplement delivers a bi-monthly dose of news, views and reviews, as seen through my lady lens.
