Herlistic Nutrition

16/02/2026

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and in Australia — over 20,000 diagnoses were projected in 2025 alone.

Approximately 70–80 % of all breast cancers are oestrogen ER + making it the most common subtype of breast cancer.
ER+ cancers are treated with approaches that either involve drugs that block the receptor or block the production of oestrogen.

When we significantly reduce or block oestrogen signalling, we are not only targeting tumour biology — we are altering a hormone that is a systemic regulatory molecule involved in regulating bone turnover, metabolic function, brain chemistry, vascular integrity, and genitourinary health.
When we suppress it, the body feels it -
Symptoms often include hot flushes, joint pain, mood changes, brain fog, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, recurrent UTIs.

These are not minor side effects!

We need to support women navigating cancer recovery, because without adequate support the burden can become isolating.

If you need support please book a free discovery call and enquire about my “Endocrine Management Therapy Programme” now!

12/02/2026

12/02/2026

One of the Most Important Blood Tests You’re Probably Not Checking

Homocysteine.

It doesn’t get the attention it deserves - but it should.

Homocysteine is a key marker of how well your methylation cycle is functioning. When elevated, it has been associated with:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Cognitive decline
• Pregnancy complications
• B-vitamin deficiencies

While many people focus on testing the MTHFR, genetics only tell you potential risk.

Homocysteine tells you what’s actually happening in your body right now.

You can carry an MTHFR variant and have normal homocysteine.
You can have no variant and still have elevated levels.

That’s why, in practice, homocysteine is one of the most important functional markers to check if you care about heart health, brain health, or methylation.

Before chasing mutations - check the marker.

10/02/2026

Cancer does not develop overnight; it begins as a systemic disease rather than a structural one.

It starts with inflammation, immune failure, and metabolic dysfunction—long before imaging can detect any abnormalities. Before a tumor forms, lab tests often reveal patterns that increase cancer risk, such as:


Persistent inflammation markers
Anemia of chronic disease (ACD)
Insulin resistance
Immune suppression
Liver enzyme patterns
Hormonal imbalance


Many lab indicators are not routinely monitored, yet they can often be modified for early intervention.

29/01/2026

Explore how vitamin D affects cancer risk, progression, and outcomes, including mechanisms, evidence, and supplementation considerations.

26/01/2026

Cancer is often a symptom, not the root problem.
There are deeper imbalances like:

👉Metabolic dysfunction
👉Chronic inflammation
👉Immune dysregulation
👉Hormonal and growth factor imbalances
👉Viruses
👉Detoxification and gut dysbiosis issues

👉With epigenetic shifts, environmental and lifestyle issues impacting systemic resilience.

Addressing these root causes is what restores health and reduces risk of reoccurrence.

Conventional treatment is not enough!

18/01/2026

Insulin is not only a central metabolic hormone but also a powerful growth factor. Secreted by pancreatic β-cells, insulin acts through insulin receptors (IRs) that are expressed on all cell types, including cancer cells.

Metabolic conditions characterised by chronic hyperinsulinaemia—including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome—are consistently associated with higher cancer incidence.

Persistently elevated insulin creates a pro-growth, pro-survival signalling environment that can favour tumour initiation and progression.

Nutritional patterns, meal timing, body composition, inflammation, liver function, and skeletal muscle health all influence insulin demand and sensitivity, thereby shaping tumour-relevant signalling pathways such as PI3K–AKT–mTOR and MAPK.

As targeted cancer therapies have advanced, insulin signalling has also emerged as a contributor to therapeutic resistance, reinforcing the importance of addressing metabolic context alongside conventional treatment.

From a Nutritional oncology perspective, integrating strategies that support metabolic health and insulin regulation play a complementary role in cancer prevention, treatment response, and survivorship care.

17/01/2026

1 grated beetroot,
1 large carrot,
1 large zucchini, ( squeeze out excess water).
Yes firm grated tofu too!
4 pastured eggs
with a 2t of buckwheat flour to bind!

Easy peazy breakfast with adequate protein and veg!

-breakfast

07/01/2026

A 2025 randomized, placebo-controlled trial published (PMID: 40098326) in Nutrition and Cancer found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved pathological complete response rates (defined as the absence of invasive cancer in both the breast and axillary lymph nodes, confirmed after surgery.) in postmenopausal women with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (treatment where chemotherapy drugs are administered before surgery or other local treatments like radiation).

Findings:
Women who received 2,000 IU/day of vitamin D3 during the 6-month chemotherapy period achieved a 43% complete response rate, compared to 24% in the placebo group.

🧬 Vitamin D status and response:

- Baseline 25(OH)D levels indicated widespread sub-clinical deficiency in both groups (vit D group: 19.6 ng/mL; placebo: 21 ng/mL)
- After supplementation, the vit D group reached 28 ng/mL, significantly higher than the placebo group (20.2 ng/mL)
- Logistic regression showed that women with 25(OH)D ≥ 20 ng/mL were 3.65 times more likely to achieve complete response rates than those with deficient levels.

Mechanistic insight:
Vitamin D may enhance chemo response by:

- Promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in tumor cells
- Increasing expression of tumor-suppressor genes
- Sensitizing tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents
- Reducing chemotherapy-induced vitamin D depletion

💊 Why 2,000 IU/day?
This dose was chosen based on research suggesting it can elevate 25(OH)D to ≥30 ng/mL in ~90% of the population, which is considered a plausible threshold for improving cancer outcomes.

⚠️ Limitations:

- Single-center study with a relatively small cohort (n = 80 randomized; 75 completed treatment)
- Baseline vitamin D status was measured, but not used to stratify dose, meaning some individuals may have remained suboptimal despite supplementation
- The fixed dose may not account for weight-related variability in vitamin D metabolism
- Further trials are needed to assess long-term survival outcomes and determine optimal dosing across diverse patient groups

vit D supplementation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy may enhance tumor responsiveness in PM women with vit D deficiency

06/01/2026

“Only 5% of cancer is genetic” due to gene mutations.
The remainder 95% are influenced by how genes are expressed and mutations develop overtime.

“Genes load the gun. Environment pulls the trigger.”

➡️Environmental carcinogens
➡️Insulin resistance,
➡️Metabolic dysfunction,
➡️Chronic inflammation, ➡️Hormonal dysregulation and nutrient deficiencies that affect DNA repair and methylation contribute.

Diet directly impacts these processes!

🥦Nutrition matters at every stage of cancer care

02/01/2026

Insulin is a vital metabolic and growth-regulating hormone, it is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas and is released into the bloodstream primarily in response to rising blood glucose after eating, but when insulin is chronically elevated due to insulin resistance, it can contribute to systemic disease.

Despite strong evidence linking hyperinsulinaemia to chronic disease and cancer biology, fasting insulin measurement is not routinely incorporated into standard blood panels.


Yet, fasting insulin is one of the most useful markers for assessing early metabolic dysfunction, even when glucose remains within the normal range.

➡️Laboratory reference range: typically ~2–25 mIU/L (or µIU/mL)
→ This reflects population averages, not metabolic optimality.
➡️Metabolically optimal fasting insulin:
~2–6 mIU/L (µIU/mL)
Often considered ideal for metabolic health and
improved insulin sensitivity and lower inflammatory burden.


➡️Do you need strategies to improve insulin sensitivity?
➡️Do you require in-depth blood analysis with a qualified practitioner?
➡️Do you seek support in the prevention or reversal of metabolic dysfunction?
➡️Or would you like to consult a Nutritional oncology provider?


If so, why not book a free discovery call or consult now!

23/12/2025

NOT ALL FOLATE IS THE SAME!

Folate (B9) plays a critical role in various biological processes, including DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation, making it essential for cell growth and division.
Without enough folate, cells can’t divide or repair themselves properly leading to mutations which are key contributors to cancer development. Folate plays a pivotal role in the prevention and management of various types of cancer.


Natural folate Vitamin B9 from food is NOT toxic, It is water-soluble and naturally found in plants and vegetables, such as dark leafy greens, avocado, broccoli, asparagus, citrus fruits, legumes. “Folate from food nourishes and the body handles it intelligently.”


Synthetic folic acid on the other hand can overwhelm, accumulate, proliferate.

Literature reviews and RCT’s indicate excessive intake of folic acid (synthetic) can increase the likelihood of precancerous cell growth, also recurrent adenomas.
Excessive supplementation can lead to unexpected consequences, especially among individuals with specific genetic mutations.


🚫Avoid folic acid in most functional, hormonal, thyroid, and oncology contexts.

🌿 Food folate = safe & supportive
💊 Supplement folate = needs personalisation


✨ This is why personalised nutrition matters.
✨ And why more supplements ≠ better health.


If this helped, save it. 🙏

If you know someone with MTHFR or cancer concerns, share it. 🙏

Educational information only. Always speak with your healthcare provider about your individual needs.


Book your free discovery call or consult link in bio.











📍YoungStreetMedicalWollongong
📍ThirroulNaturalHealing