Nina Ward - Naturopath & Integrative Nutrition

15/11/2025

How good is this?
Great share Raquel Yeomans.
www.ninaward.com.au

14/11/2025

Some of this week's Metabolic Balance joy. Check out this craziness to see why I simple love supporting clients through this world class program...
🍎1 week in - down 3.5kg (men always shift like crazy), blood pressure from 150/105 to 136/89, slept through the night for the first time in 10 years
🍎1 week in - down 3.2kg (mostly inflammation), feeling refreshed in the morning, no more bloating/ burping/ flatulence
🍎2 weeks in - down a total of 3.1kg, hot flushes and night sweats nearly gone (radical hysterectomy, no HRT or hormonal herbs - a true sign of the power of food)
🍎12 weeks in - down a total of 11.4kg, maintaining well, hair shiny and healthy (getting compliments), sinus congestion gone
It's such a pleasure being able to guide clients through this incredible program... if for no other reason than getting to hear positive shifts.
Even when clients have challenges, they are learning about their bodies - what foods their body likes and dislikes, where the boundaries are with food/ alcohol/ exercise and how that determines how well they feel (energy, inflammation, sleep, etc). It's an all round spectacular process of self discovery.
What is Metabolic Balance? Below, you can read about it on my website and online, and listen to the podcast on Youtube to hear people's first hand experiences.
www.ninaward.com.au/metabolic-balance
www.metabolic-balance.com.au
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyOPKf5Yw_imWtojxzTd_tbUiqHfZkBYY
If you want to learn more about how Metabolic Balance can help you personally you can book a free chat with me here - https://www.ninaward.com.au/book-online
www.ninaward.com.au

10/11/2025

The power of 'yet.
If something feels hard, confusing, or out of reach right now, try adding one word: yet.
We are constantly growing and expanding so just because something is not working out this week doesn't mean it'll be like that forever.
www.ninaward.com.au
Credit: Neurotoned

09/11/2025

www.ninaward.com.au

📸 ♥️ MNP

06/11/2025

I'm excited to share that I have a 90 min appointment spot for a new client available next week...
12 November @ 2pm (Adelaide time)
Have you been thinking about making a start? Shall we get going? Reach out by email or DM to secure this spot (it's not listed on my booking page).
Did you know that if you are sitting on the fence about a health issue and want to suss me out first, you can book a free 15 mins chat. For information about booking a call and all other appointments, head to my booking page - www.ninaward.com.au/book-online
www.ninaward.com.au

02/11/2025

Anyone who's heard me use the term GEMM knows how much I love broccoli sprout. The miracle of this magic pixie dust just keeps getting broader and broader.
www.ninaward.com.au

Scientists have just uncovered a powerful compound in broccoli that can eliminate up to 90 percent of plaque and tooth decay — marking a stunning breakthrough in natural dental care. This discovery could one day replace harsh chemical mouthwashes and even reduce the need for invasive dental treatments.

The compound, known as sulforaphane, is already recognized for its cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. But new studies show it also targets harmful bacteria that cling to teeth and gums. When applied to oral surfaces, sulforaphane breaks down biofilm — the sticky layer that causes plaque buildup and leads to tooth decay.

In lab tests, a broccoli-based oral solution reduced bacterial colonies dramatically within hours, outperforming several leading dental rinses. Not only did it remove existing plaque, but it also prevented new buildup by making it harder for bacteria to stick to enamel.

What makes this breakthrough even more exciting is its safety. Sulforaphane is plant-based, non-toxic, and naturally found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It can be consumed or applied directly, offering a gentle alternative for people with sensitive gums or allergies to traditional products.

Researchers are now working on turning this compound into toothpaste, rinses, and even chewable tablets. It could transform oral care into something greener, safer, and more effective.

Sometimes the best solutions are growing right on our plates. Broccoli, long praised for body health, may now become a hero for dental health too.

11/10/2025

Taking this little cutie on its maiden tea brewing journey in my possession with my current favourite tea, Bengal Spice (cinnamony goodness)
This weekend's prized thrifting find.
www.ninaward.com.au

29/09/2025

This has made me laugh way harder than it should.
www.ninaward.com.au

28/09/2025

3 selfish reasons that I love the Metabolic Balance program as a practitioner...
🍎MB takes all the guess work out of food. Without a tool like Metabolic Balance helping to individualise an eating plan, the most we can do as practitioners is provide generic advice based on what has worked for 'most' people. Although this advice can be really helpful, if there is a certain food or combination of foods that are causing inflammation for a client, that can be enough for them not to progress. With MB, foods are selected for a plan based on A. a person's unique metabolic pathology patterns from blood test results, B. a person's conditions, symptoms, and current medications, and C. a person's body biometrics (measurements) so we can see when the body stores fat (interestingly different hormone imbalances cause fat deposition in different areas of the body)
🍎MB works for everyone so each appointment is filled with positive results. This is really fun as the supporting practitioner. Who doesn't love a day filled with good news stories? No matter whether someone is working on weight balance, reducing inflammation, hormone regulation, or just wanting to feel better overall, because of the individualised approach, success is inevitable. It was the lack of consistent success, particularly around weight balance support for client, that pushed me to seek out an evidence based program like MB in the first place.
🍎I get the privilege of watching people go through amazing transformations, not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and in huge realisations about certain aspects of life - "I just didn't have the balance right", "I wasn't accounting for an increase in exercise", "I wasn't eating enough", "I was eating all the time and just overwhelming my body", "I was just fuelling myself with coffee", "I've been putting everyone else's needs in the family first before my own", "Now that I know how good I can feel, I just don't want to go back".
There's more that I love about this amazing tool but those are the winners. One thing that Metabolic Balance has shown me is just how powerful food is. Although I am usually co-prescribing to support nutrient deficiencies, correct gut health, or help the body to manage stress, it's the food that does all the heavy lifting.
Good food is EVERYTHING!
What the heck is Metabolic Balance? Learn here - www.ninaward.com.au/Metabolic-Balanace
www.ninaward.com.au

24/09/2025

100%. Ya with me?
www.ninaward.com.au

15/09/2025

Gentle reminder at the end of Winter if you're feeling a bit funky!
Right folks, where are we getting these two power house nutrients from?
Iron rich food sources and facts...
🥩Red meats, beef, lamb, pork, and especially kangaroo
🥩Liver, pate is a great way of getting this in as it also contains great iron cofactors like vitamin A and copper
🥩Some legumes like cannellini beans and lentils however it is important to recognise that plant base iron is not easy for the body to absorb
🥩Dark leafy greens but don't only rely on greens as the quantity needed is substantial
🥩Ferritin is the marker of iron sufficiency/ deficiency. Men typically sit around 150 ug/L (a lot higher or lower needs a conversation); women lower due to iron loss from periods but I definitely find that women feel suboptimal below 70 ug/L (100ug/L seems to be a magic spot)
People at risk of iron deficiency are those taking PPIs (like Nexium) or using anything that downregulates stomach acid (even Gaviscon) which is vital for iron absorption, women with heavy periods, those who donate blood regularly, anyone with gut issues where absorption may be reduced by gut inflammation (like dysbiosis, coeliac disease, or ulcerative colitis, parasites, worms), vegetarians and vegans (regular supplementation is not negotiable), and babies and young children of women who were iron deficient in pregnancy.
Vitamin D sources and facts...
🌞It's really all about the sun hitting the skin, as much of it as you can expose.
🌞Short 5-10 min burst of midday sun from late September through to mid April
🌞If you have good fencing, strip off and lie in the sun, 5 mins each side 2-3 times a week or have lunch in the sun (wear a hat though)
🌞Did you know that in very Southern or Northern global areas we simply cannot generate vitamin D in Winter (including Adelaide, Melbourne and NZ)?
🌞Foods sources include fatty fish, eggs, and mushrooms that have been exposed to the sun or UV light (there's a whole other post right there) but you absolutely cannot rely on food sources to maintain levels
🌞You cannot generate vitamin D wearing sunscreen (shock!)
🌞Optimal vitamin D levels are 110-120 nmol/L (go and check your last results)
People at risk of vitamin D deficiency and those really needing to maintain optimal levels include anyone with an office job, anyone actively avoiding the sun, the elderly, being overweight, anyone with darker skin pigmentation (Mediterranean, Islander or African heritage), pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with autoimmune conditions, and anyone getting sick frequently.
Want to know more? Ask questions. Having trouble with either of these chaps? Let's make a time to chat or have an appointment.
www.ninaward.com.au

11/09/2025

Thoughtful Thursday!
www.ninaward.com.au