Dooleys Nutrition Ards

15/11/2025

Nail problems

Nail problems are not usually caused by anything serious. Common nail problems include brittle, loose nails that may change colour or shape.

It's normal for nails to: [a] become thicker or break more easily (brittle) as you get older, [b] become harder, softer or more brittle during pregnancy (they should be healthier within 6 months of having a baby), [c] change colour, become loose and eventually fall off after an injury.

There are some things you can do to help with common nail problems.

1/ wear rubber gloves if your hands are often in water or you regularly use cleaning products
2/ clean your nails with a soft nailbrush
3/ apply hand cream to your nails and fingertips regularly
4/ trim your nails regularly (it may help to cut them after a shower or bath)
5/ cut injured, loose nails back to where they are still attached, as this helps them to grow back normally
6/ do not cut your nails down the edges, and only trim straight across the top to help avoid an ingrown toenail
7/ do not clean under your nails with sharp objects
8/ do not wear shoes that pinch your toes, especially when exercising
9/ do not bite or pick your nails or the skin around them
10/do not ignore fungal infections on your skin, such as athlete's foot

See a GP if: [a] a nail has changed shape, changed colour or fallen off and you do not know why, [b] the skin around your nails has become sore, red, swollen and warm, which can be a sign of an infection or ingrown toenail

See a podiatrist if your nails are too tough to cut or you cannot reach them.

(adapted from www.nhs.uk)

12/11/2025

STOPPING SSRIs

SSRIs aren't addictive.

However, stopping antidepressant treatment abruptly or missing several doses can cause withdrawal-like symptoms.

This is sometimes called discontinuation syndrome.

Work with your doctor to gradually and safely decrease your dose.

Withdrawal-like symptoms can include: [1] general feeling of uneasiness, [2] nausea, [3] dizziness, [4] lethargy, and [5] flu-like symptoms.

DNA recommends that you DO NOT stop SSRIs without the support of your GP or nutritional therapist.

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

Stopping Anti-depressant Medication

This post is specifically for those people who have decided to stop (or reduce) their anti-depressants. DNA would only advise this in consultation with your GP.

> long term anti-depressant use can disrupt the health of the liver, hormonal balance, kidney health, the emotions and the nervous system.

> when an artificial substance (anti-depressant) is weaned from the body, this can have a strong effect on its ability to cope & the body begins to crave the substance.

> many people will experience very strong detoxification and addictive symptoms.

> these feelings should not be long term and the body should re-balance over time if allowed. However these weaning reactions can be very overwhelming for many individuals and very difficult to move through.

ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDICATION WITHDRAWALS

> reducing nervous system medication can be very difficult, for this reason Naturopaths & Doctors will recommend a very slow weaning period (6-12 months).

> anti-depressants mask emotions and these feelings can rise very strongly in people as it is removed from the body.

> take it slow and realise that it is your body's natural reaction to rebalance itself.

> if you reduce your dosage by half and feel that your wellbeing has improved, stay on that dosage for a while before reducing further.

> one year of reducing the medication and experiencing the associated feelings of withdrawals is better than continuing on the medication for life.

LIVER AND ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDICATION

> support the health of the liver whilst reducing nervous system medication as it is the role of the liver to detoxify and remove the medication from the body.

> cleansing the liver positively effects the nervous system

> there are many herbal and nutritional formulas you can consider taking whilst reducing anti-depressants, except St Johns Wort which is CONTRAINDICATED.

10/11/2025

EAT for HEALTH

1/ healthy fats - nerve coverings are all made from fat, and every one of our 10 trillion cells is wrapped in a little fatty membrane.

2/ quality protein - it is used by the body to make muscle, cells, and immune molecules.

3/ vitamins and minerals are required to build tissues, muscles, and bones.

Adapted from Mark Hyman, MD

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09/11/2025

Gilbert’s Syndrome (GS)

GS is a genetic condition that runs in families.

A faulty gene causes the liver to have problems removing bilirubin from the blood.

Normally, when red blood cells reach the end of their life, haemoglobin breaks down into bilirubin.The liver converts bilirubin into a water-soluble form, which passes into bile before being removed from the body.

In GS, bilirubin is not passed into bile at the normal rate and builds up in the bloodstream. This gives the skin and whites of the eyes a yellowish tinge.

> alcohol intolerance is common, with severe hangovers.

> not related to lifestyle habits, environmental factors or serious underlying liver problems, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis C.

> avoid Panadol and supplements containing high doses of vitamins B3, A or D and cod liver oil.

> increase liver cleansing foods such as berries, grapes, beetroot juice and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, bok choy and brussels sprouts).

> drink green tea.

> See a GP if you have an episode of jaundice for the first time.

See www.dooleysnutritionards.com for further information.

08/11/2025

UTIs.

Make sure it is investigated.

You need to pay particular attention to your nutrition, sleep and warmth.

Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins that prevent the adherence of bacteria to the mucosal walls of the urinary tract, thus keeping the bacteria from multiplying and infecting the host tissue.

Avoid commercial cranberry drinks, which are high in acid-forming added sugar.

Soak frozen or fresh cranberries in water overnight and enjoy up to 300ml daily.

Avoid coffee and tea, sugar, alcohol and fizzy drinks (regular or diet). Instead consume 1-2 litres of fresh lemon juice in spring water or 3 tsp of apple cider vinegar in unsweetened apple juice, mixed with 2 litres of water.

Fresh parsley and fresh dandelion leaf can be beneficial; add them to salads and soups. (www.naturopathy-uk.com)

07/11/2025

TYPES OF FEMALE HAIR LOSS

The most common types of female hair loss include:

1/ Androgenic Alopecia
- most common time of female hair loss during menopause.
- displays patterns of baldness with thinning in the front and tops of the scalp.
- characterized by insufficient estrogen and/or progesterone.

2/ Alopecia Areata
- characterized by patchy hair loss all over the scalp that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.
- caused by autoimmunity in the hair follicles.

3/ Telogen Effluvium:
- most common type of hair loss seen in Hashimoto’s disease.
- characterized by diffuse thinning all over the scalp.
- caused by autoimmunity in the thyroid gland.

If you are suffering from female hair loss, please see a nutritional therapist such as Dooleys Nutrition Ards, who will address the underlying issues (balance hormones, immune response, nutrient deficiencies etc).

(Adapted from www.drjockers.com)

06/11/2025

Great to see saunas growing in popularity in NI - their health benefits are numerous!

05/11/2025

By WebMD- Discover an array of foods (beyond carrots) with nutrients that will help your eyes stay healthy now and later.

04/11/2025

In the UK women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with a mood disorder – depression, generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

Oestrogen and progesterone are the main female s*x steroid hormones. In addition to their roles in the female reproductive system, both are known to regulate neurotransmitter activity in a number of ways.

In women, more so than men, levels of s*x steroid hormones vary both through life stages – puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause, and monthly (through menstrual cycles).

See www.dooleysnutritionards.com for further information.

(www.theanp.co.uk)

03/11/2025

The Gut and Chronic Symptoms / Diseases

> if your gut isn’t healthy => you’re not healthy!

> the gut (and its microbiome) regulate many of our bodily functions, including:
[1] creating vitamins to controlling our immune system,
[2] brain function,
[3] metabolism and weight.

> tips to heal the gut include increasing fibre, pro- and pre-biotics, vegetables and adding supplements such as quercetin, zinc and glucosamine.

See www.dooleysnutritionards.com for much more information on the gut microbiome.