Grace Rivas Naturopathic Practitioner

29/12/2025

HONOURING and SUPPORTING the PERIMENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE TRANSITION🌻🌿

Perimenopause and menopause are natural transitions in women physiology. From a functional medicine perspective, the quality of this transition is profoundly influenced by our nutritional status, metabolic health, stress adaptation, lifestyle choices and relationships.

Around early and mid forties progressive changes start to appear, this often extends to mid and late fifties. Menstrual cycles becoming shorter or increasingly irregular often signals the onset of perimenopause. At this stage, the production of the hormone progesterone typically declines earlier and more abruptly than oestrogen, creating a state of relative oestrogen dominance.

In the early Perimenopause stage ovulation becomes inconsistent and, in later stages ovulation becomes absent, resulting in anovulatory cycles, followed by absent menstrual cycles in the Menopause stage. These changes reflect normal reproductive cessation rather than biological dysfunction.

Perimenopause and Menopause are not phases to be resisted, or suppressed. Attempts to override a natural biological transition often exacerbate imbalances. Symptoms such as mood changes, fatigue, disrupted sleep, weight changes, cognitive shifts, and reduced stress tolerance often emerge at the intersection of hormonal fluctuations but are profoundly influenced by our general health.

THE SAD NEWS....
Nutritional deficiencies, thyroid and metabolic dysfunction, compromised gut health, chronic inflammation, and chronic psychosocial stress can significantly intensify symptoms during this transition.

THE HAPPY NEWS...
With a proper functional health assessment and personalised approach, this natural phase can be transitioned with clarity and confidence. Understanding our body’s evolving needs create the opportunity for adaptation, resilience, restoration and balance.

If you need guidance, support, and empowerment grounded in knowledge and extensive clinical experience, I am here to support you on this new chapter of your health journey 🌻🌿

Grace Rivas BHSc ND
Graduate, Australian College of Natural Medicine

05/11/2025

🩺 CHOLESTEROL: Silent Killer or Unrecognised Hero?

MY YOUTUBE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vzdnYuq7QG4

For decades, cholesterol has been blamed for clogged arteries, heart attacks, and premature death.

However, cholesterol is a vital fat molecule needed to produce the hormones testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA-S, and vitamin D.

Cholesterol is also a key component of cell membranes, the myelin sheath of brain cells, is required for bile production, and much more.

So why the bad reputation?

🧐 Like at a crime scene, cholesterol is found at the site of arterial damage, along inflammation and oxidative stress.

But what if I told you that cholesterol actually rushes to the scene of arterial damage to protect and repair, not to cause harm!

Think of it like firefighters at a fire:
they appear to extinguish the flames,
not because they started them!

🧐 Let’s take a look at other suspects...

We know that inflammation and oxidative stress is associated with glucose dysregulation and insulin resistance.

🧐The silent killer are the refined carbohydrates and sugars, seed oils, alcohol, and sedentary lifestyles leading to inflammation and oxidative stress.

Grace Rivas
BH-Science Nat. Medicine
Naturopathic Practitioner & Functional Nutritionist 🌿

22/10/2025

✨️️️CLIENT REVIEW✨️️️
I first saw Grace back in 2023,
my twins were 2 years old at the time and I was seriously post-natal depleted. I was struggling to survive everyday with 4 children, I had zero energy. Grace listened and made me a bottle of herbal tonic, it was life changing for me. My energy returned and it was like life and happiness was injected back into my body. I cannot thank Grace enough for her helping me through this time and for going above and beyond to make house calls for me.
Grace was also able to help me with my poor thumb nail which I slammed into a car door 5 years ago. I went to see my gp and she said there was nothing they could do. After many years of extreme pain day to day from the split often getting caught on things and pulling down my nail bed I decided to ask if Grace if she could do anything…. And of course she was able to assist, my nail is now 70% better than it was and I think it might even fully heal back to normal. Unbelievable!!
Grace is an expert in her field and has helped my whole family. My son from the age of 8 months has suffered from eczema. I saw our doctor, a skin specialist and finally an immunologist who were all able only to offer a steroid cream and advice of diet restrictions. I did everything they said but he was still suffering, scratching through the night, in pain and it was heartbreaking. After speaking with Grace I was able to clear his eczema up completely! She is amazing!
Grace is an incredible practitioner, women and someone whom I now call my friend. I cannot recommend her enough!
Thank you Grace for all that you have done for us
Samantha xx

28/06/2025

Feeling deeply humbled and grateful for the acknowledgment and kind words following the Perimenopause & Menopause Workshops🙏 It means so much to know that the space we created resonated with so many.

I’m honoured to bring guidance, support and understanding to this important life transition🌈

Grace Rivas BHSc ND
Naturopathic Practitioner & Functional Nutritionist

04/06/2025

Exciting NEWS! 🤩
Coming up on the 15th June is my PERIMENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE WORKSHOP

Welcome fellow sisters,

"As women, we are often conditioned to see menopause as the onset of aging and decline, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Menopause is a profound biological transformation and a sacred natural passage that holds the power to reconnect us to our inner wisdom.

This season of life is not an ending,
but a beginning, an invitation to slow down, listen closely to our bodies, and honor the changes unfolding within.

It is my heartfelt mission to walk beside you through this transition with compassion and care, offering tools, guidance, and unwavering support.

Together, we’ll embrace this journey so you can move through menopause with balance, confidence, and a renewed sense of empowerment"

Grace Rivas BHSc ​ND
Naturopathic Practitioner and Functional Nutritionist
Graduate, Australian College of Natural Medicine

Book your ticket NOW!

https://events.humanitix.com/supporting-the-change-perimenopause-and-menopause-women-s-stuff-workshops-to-provide-support-inform-and-empower-women-going-through-the-change

Gold Coast Naturopath Grace Rivas specialises in Functional, Nutritional and Naturopathic Medicine Services.

11/02/2025

ANXIETY can often be linked to underlying physical issues you might not even be aware of!

Many individuals suffering from anxiety struggle to find relief, even after years of psychological therapy or trauma release treatments.

Why techniques like BREATHING or MEDITATION don't always work?

While breathing exercises and meditation can help calm the mind temporarily, they don’t address the physical root causes of anxiety. If the underlying issue is physical—like glucose dysregulation, gut imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies—no amount of mental techniques will fully resolve the anxiety. Even though, the mind may be calm, the body’s imbalances would continue driving the anxiety!

Common physical drivers of anxiety include;

🧐 Glucose Dysregulation
🧐 Hormonal imbalances
🧐 Parasitic Infections
🧐 Dysbiosis (Gut Imbalance)
🧐 Nutritional Deficiencies

How to UNCOVER what's really driving your ANXIETY?

As a degree qualified Naturopathic Practitioner, my expertise is to uncover the underlying causes of any health problem. In a similar way, like a detective would work solving mystery cases🧐

By using my clinical skills, expertise in functional medicine and holistic health and my critical thinking process and innate intuition; I'm able to connect the dots between the physical, emotional, mental, genetic, and environmental factors which allows me to uncover what's causing your health challenges. With this information, I'm then able to design a specific treatment plan for your needs.

WHAT should I DO NOW?

Your first step is to message me and book in your first consultation with me by using the link below!
www.gracerivas.com/contact

Honoured to guide, support, and empower you on your wellness journey! 🌈✨

Grace Rivas
BHSc Nat. Medicine
Clinical Nat.Practitioner

10/02/2025

While your CHRONOLOGICAL AGE ticks forward each year, your BIOLOGICAL AGE can be a different story!

Telomeres, the vital protective caps at the ends of your chromosomes, determine how fast—or how slowly—you age at the cellular level. With each cell division, telomeres shorten, and when they get too short, your cells lose the ability to efficiently regenerate. This process is at the heart of aging, and it may be happening faster than you think!

Telomere length is a powerful indicator of your true biological age, reflecting how your cells are holding up over time. If your telomeres are shorter than expected, it may mean your cells are aging faster, potentially leading to premature signs of aging and increased susceptibility to diseases.

Shortened telomeres don't just mark the passage of time, they are linked to health degeneration. From cardiovascular diseases to diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, the consequences of short telomeres are far-reaching. As your telomeres shorten, cellular dysfunction and inflammation increase, accelerating the aging process.

Did you know telomere testing offers a window into your cellular aging process?

As a Naturopathic Practitioner,
I can send you for telomere testing, and
based on the test results, design a personalised treatment plan to support preventing premature telomere shortening and promote telomere lengthening!

With this knowledge, you can take charge of your health and make lifestyle adjustments to age gracefully!

Grace Rivas
BHSc Nat. Medicine 🌿

27/11/2024

Why You Should Consult with a Naturopathic Practitioner Before Self-Prescribing Herbal Supplements

While herbal supplements can support your general health and help you restore from chronic health conditions, herbal remedies can become dangerous when self-prescribed without professional guidance.

1. Complex Interactions:
Herbal remedies can interact with prescription medications, other herbs, or even certain foods, potentially causing negative side effects or diminishing the effectiveness of other treatments. These interactions can be subtle and difficult to identify without professional oversight. A qualified naturopathic practitioner can assess your health profile and help you avoid harmful interactions.

2. Dosage Precision:
The proper dosage of herbal supplements is critical for safety and efficacy. Without professional guidance, determining the correct dose can be challenging. Too little may be ineffective, while too much could cause toxicity. A Naturopathic Practitioner has the expertise to prescribe the correct therapeutic dose for your specific health needs.

3. Safety Concerns:
Self-prescribed herbs can sometimes worsen underlying health conditions. For example, Ashwagandha may exacerbate hyperthyroidism, or Licorice may exacerbate hypertension. A qualified Naturopathic practitioner is trained to evaluate your medical history and current health status to avoid such risks, ensuring that any herbal remedies you use are safe and appropriate for your condition.

4. Quality and Purity:
The quality and purity of herbal supplements can vary widely between manufacturers, and not all products are created equal. Without professional insight, it can be difficult to know which brands are trustworthy. A qualified Naturopathic Practitioner is able to source high-quality herbal products that are both effective and safe.

5. Unwanted Effects:
Taking herbal supplements without proper supervision can lead to adverse effects, including organ damage or other long-term health complications. A Naturopathic practitioner ensures that herbs are used in the correct manner, for the appropriate duration, and in the right combination, minimizing the risk of unwanted side effects.

As a degree qualified Naturopathic Practitioner, I provide expert guidance on the safe and effective use of herbal remedies, ensuring that they align with your unique health needs.

To learn more about how I can support your health visit: www.gracerivas.com.

28/08/2024

The PROS and CONS of taking SUPPLEMENTS

Something that is increasingly becoming a health concern is that many people are self-prescribing and/or recommending supplements and herbs to friends and family members, without proper health assessments or any understanding of individual requirements, doses and length of treatment to be used.

We know that some diets can be very restrictive, also we know that modern agriculture has negatively impacted the quality of our soils, and by looking at these factors alone, it could make sense to start taking nutritional supplementation.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that many nutritional supplements are not natural, they are synthetic forms of nutrients often attached to carrier molecules to increase its absorption. Supplements can also contain non-listed ingredients called excipients, some known to cause some adverse effects.

It’s also important to understand that herbs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements have the capacity to positively or negatively interact with nutrients in foods, with other supplements and with pharmaceutical drugs.

Supplements can inhibit each other by competitive absorption, can interfere with medications and potentially become toxic at random self-prescribed doses.

Please know that taking supplements on a regular basis may also hinder your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from foods.

A widely spread myth is that taking the highest dose of a supplement is better. Unfortunately, many people end up with liver and kidney damage, and permanent peripheral neuropathies or nerve damage.

Most people take supplements to prevent disease, complement a poor diet or to enhance physical performance, however, its important to understand that supplements are not dietary substitutes.

A wholesome diet consisting of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that protects you against oxidative stress, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cancers and premature aging.

So ideally, one should eat organic spray free fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes and free-range organic eggs, organic dairy or wild caught fish and grass feed meats.

Also, there are times when we actually need to take supplements, so we can replenish nutrient deficiencies or to support our bodies against certain infections, to balance hormones, to regulate inflammation, allergies and much more.

Supplements can help usredtore good health when taken according to our individual needs, at the right dose and timeframe for our case.

Before taking any supplement, one should always consult with a qualified Naturopathic/Nutritionist Practitioner who is fully qualified and a current member of a reputable Naturopathic Medicine Association and undergoes continuous professional development and is knowledgeable in functional medicine and holistic healthcare practices.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop them in the comment section beneath about any supplements that you are taking and I might be able to give you some feedback.

13/08/2024

https://www.gracerivas.com/post/understanding-orthorexia-how-to-recognize-and-address-obsessive-healthy-eating

In recent years, the world has witnessed an overwhelming surge of new diet trends claiming to be the key to unlocking a more aesthetically healthy looking body.While the intention behind following a healthy diet can be positive; as aiming for more energy, vitality, or a specific body goal, there is....

08/08/2024

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