Inspiredwellness

08/01/2024

Happy New Year to all of our clients and followers.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2024.

I have some exciting news to share with you. As most of you probably know I am currently studying towards becoming accredited by the Institute of Functional Medicine.

I am very excited and proud to announce that I have taken ownership of the highly respected and well-supported practitioner based Irish Lifestyle and Functional Medicine Conference.

It truly is a profound honour to take over the responsibility of running the Functional Medicine Conference. The opportunity to organize such an event that fosters transformation and progress fills me with great excitement.

To be entrusted with steering this gathering of brilliant minds, innovators, and advocates in Ireland and beyond is a true privilege—one I will approach with enthusiasm and dedication

Our Inspired Wellness clinics and therapies will continue as usual and we are looking forward to greeting you all soon.

23/12/2023

11/10/2023

Navigating the Blood Sugar Roller Coaster Effect.

One of the main topics I address daily in my clinical practice is helping clients to understand and manage their blood sugar levels.

Prioritizing our blood sugar levels is essential for maintaining stable energy, balanced hormones, our mood, lower inflammation levels and promoting health and well-being

So why do we call it a Roller Coaster effect and are we controlled by it without knowing?

I offer the analogy of a Roller Coaster because when processed foods or simple carbohydrates are consumed they quickly get broken down into glucose by our body and used as a primary source of energy thus creating a spike.

This initial spike in blood sugar is considered natural and necessary for energy production, however due to the rush of glucose causing such highs this is often preceded by a steep crash ultimately leading to intense hunger, irritability and even fatigue.

This is why it can be much harder to resist the urge to reach for more sugary snacks to artificially boost energy thus leading to a Roller Coaster Effect!

My tips for obtaining a more balanced approach

Starting with the first meal of the day - breakfast.
Aim to consume a balanced meal to include a portion of lean protein, some healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.

What would this look like?

An omelette with added vegetables, avocado and a slice of sourdough toast.

These food types will offer a more balanced and slower release of glucose whilst still allowing the body to meet its energy requirements and avoiding the peaks and troughs.

In short, managing the roller coaster involves committing to making smarter food choices by focusing on a balanced diet, keeping hydrated and taking regular exercise.

I believe that by adopting these principles, it can help with maintaining stable energy levels giving you back control over when and what you eat.

Should you wish to book a personalised consultation you can do so on inspiredwellness.ie/contact/

28/09/2023

Benefits of reaching Optimal Health:

What is your ideal image of Optimal Health?

My personal image is when I am feeling happy, in balance & harmony, vibrant and energetic.

Do I feel this way all of the time…..Nope!

Is it my ultimate goal and where I put my personal daily focus? Yep most days 😊

I find that when I am working on reaching my individual optimal health I begin to feel enthusiastic, vibrant and have increased energy levels, which allows me to be fully engaged in my daily activities of being a mom, practitioner and founder at Inspired Wellness.

Reaching or working on reaching optimal health will look different for each person, however it does take mindful commitment and hard work.

I believe that striving for optimal health involves a holistic approach that includes optimal nutrition, lifestyle changes, well-being, selfcare practices and even enhancing social connections to maximize well-being outcomes.

So, what does your optimal health look like and are you ready to commit to starting on a healthier journey towards achieving it?

As a practitioner I can’t promise results, however I do offer my 100% commitment, expertise and experience as a nutritional therapist, health coach and holistic practitioner in supporting you on your journey to achieve your optimal health goals.

Feeling stressed out, having low energy, feeling tired all of the time, not sleeping well, having energy dips and sugar highs, putting on weight around the tummy, dull and dry skin, not feeling vibrant, not knowing what to eat or grabbing snacks that you know you aren’t good for your health, Juggling work and family life with no selfcare time for you…… I can hold space, teach and support you !!!

For more information on our bespoke wellness programmes go to www.inspiredwellness.ie

25/09/2023

My name is Gina, I am the founder of Inspired Wellness. My role as a Holistic Practitioner is to help support clients to live a healthier more sustainable lifestyle.

My deep passion is centred in natural health and wellbeing and in living a toxic free mindful lifestyle as possible. My focus is to help change the current system and mindset around what a healthy diet and lifestyle is in today’s fast-paced world.

In order to thrive in life, I believe that we need to create a new narrative for our health, wellbeing and environment going forward. I also believe that nature is here to support our wellbeing and that we sometimes forget that our body only needs to find balance in order to start feeling better.

By taking a deep dive into your health and lifestyle and by using my wealth of knowledge and skills from disciplines such as Nutritional Therapy, Naturopathy, Mindfulness and Holistic therapy, I create bespoke nutritional and lifestyle programmes based on your individual needs.

My wish is to help you find balance in your nutrition and lifestyle so that you can hopefully enjoy a long happy and healthy life!

25/09/2023

My Year 2 and final year of Herbal Medicine studies is off to a very busy start. I am really so excited to offer Herbal Medicine consultation in the clinic once I qualify in 2024.

I am looking for clients who are willing to attend our in person (in a college setting) supervised student Herbal Medicine clinics at a discounted rate. Please DM me if you are interested in attending. Our student clinics start 27th Jan 2024.

31/08/2023

What do I mean when I speak about whole food sources?

I get asked the question in clinic on occasion of :- What are whole food sources?

The words ‘’Whole foods’’ refers to foods that are eaten in their unprocessed and natural state, they are nutrient dense and contain naturally occurring compounds that provide the body with a diverse range of fibre, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants that promote our overall health.

They also tend to be more satisfying and filling.

Let's take a closer look at some examples of whole food sources

1. Vegetables and fruits: Colourful fruits and vegetables are nutritionally rich powerhouses, giving us vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and A, magnesium and potassium. They're packed with antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress and very much support immune function.

2. Whole Grains: Such as quinoa, whole wheat, brown rice, oats are great sources of fibre, B vitamins, and minerals such as iron and zinc.

3. Proteins: lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds offer high-quality protein that supports tissue repair, immune function, and muscle health.

4. Healthy Fats: Avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil are sources of healthy fats which play a role in cardiovascular health, brain function, and overall energy health.

5. Herbs and Spices: such as , garlic, turmeric, ginger offer potential health benefits due to their and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Generally speaking, I would always suggest prioritizing whole foods over processed whenever possible, however as long as you have a well balanced diet some minimally processed options could work well when time and convenience are considerations.

I guess my key take home is to be as mindful as possible of the nutritional content of what you are eating and to try to focus on making whole foods the foundation of your diet.

28/08/2023

The power of adding diversity into your daily diet can be transformational to your overall health and wellbeing.

When visiting a nutritionist, I find there can be a presumption that you would need to start removing certain junk food products that are well loved from your diet, in some cases depending on the person’s eating habits this can be true, however when I assess a client’s diet and lifestyle I’m actually always in the pursuit of how I can add in diversity.

As expected I would initially focus on introducing basic individualized nutritional advice such as reducing processed foods, sugar, increasing your water intake (if needed), eating more fresh vegetables and fruits etc.

Whilst these basic steps are vitally important, I also feel that significant enhancements can be made to overall health and well-being by dietary diversity.

So, what is dietary diversity?

Dietary diversity refers to adding in a wider range of fresh wholefoods from different food groups, including a wide range of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, spices, seeds & nuts etc.

I feel that by incorporating such a variety into the diet, we are adding a plethora of health benefits such as:-.

-Trying out new foods & flavours can add to overall eating enjoyment.

-Getting a larger array of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support the body’s repair mechanisms.

-Adding additional diversity and nourishment to our healthy gut microbes.

-Supporting our body/mind connect.

-Promoting more mindful eating practice.

My top tips for initially introducing diversity into the diet is to

1. Take it slowly and make small changes gradually.
2. Try to eat fresh wholefoods that are currently in season.

3. Try to eat organic if possible.

4. Look up new healthy recipes and have fun trying them out!

If you’d like to try out our services we offer individualized nutritional programmes that include full assessment, dietary advice and recipes to follow. For more information go to www.inspiredwellness.ie

20/08/2023

With September just around the corner are you thinking of signing up to one of our wellness programmes but are a little unsure of the commitment involved and our cost?

Our 3 month programme costs 895 euro.

With now knowing our cost do you feel comfortably able to work with us in supporting you to achieve your health goals?

Did you know that taking on and making our suggested nutrition and lifestyle changes are a key component in achieving success.

On a scale of 1-5 (1 being able)
how would you rate your willingness and ability to make the changes required?

Should you wish to find out and discuss more about our individualised programmes. We offer a 15 minute complimentary discovery call.

For more information please email us at gina@inspiredwellness.ie

10/08/2023

Nourishing Mood with Food

Do you ever think about the connection between Food and Mood?

If you are a foodie like myself, you’ll be fascinated to learn that there is an interchange between the food we eat and our mood.

For instance, did you know that we have a whole network of nerves and chemical reactions connecting our brain to gut?

In my nutrition world we refer to this connection as the ‘’Gut/Brain Axes’’.

Maintaining good gut health/bacteria is vital as our gut bacteria has a direct influence over the production of our neurotransmitters (serotonin & dopamine) which are key players in regulating our mood and emotions.

Of course, keeping good blood sugar balance, keeping hydrated, consuming a healthy diet including healthy fats and practicing good sleep hygiene all play a role in the food/mood interchange story.

In summary, the diet and lifestyle we choose can significantly influence our overall health, well-being and emotional balance.

I believe we must prioritize our health by mindfully eating nutrient-rich foods and promoting great gut health and overall balance.

If you would like to find out a little more about my services you will find me at www.inspiredwellness.ie

01/05/2023

What are electrolytes and why do we need to keep them balanced?

Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge and play a key role as building blocks for our tissues, hydration, energy production, oxygen transport, electrolytes balance, bone, nerve function, muscle contraction, fluid balance and acid-base balance.

When our digestive system is strong and we are eating a diet rich in fresh organic wholefoods we are able to assimilate minerals from the diet.

This is why the quality of our diet and water intake is so important.

generally speaking in addition to keeping hydrated by drinking water throughout the day below is a list of natural food sources taken in moderation that can support electrolyte balance:

-Sodium: food sources rich in sodium include:

• Sea salt
• Olives
• Celery

-Potassium: food sources rich in potassium include:
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Oranges
• Tomatoes

-Magnesium: Foods high in magnesium include:
• Almonds
• Spinach
• Pumpkin seeds
• Black beans
• Dark chocolate
• Whole grains

• Calcium: food sources
• Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens)
• Tofu
• Fortified plant-based milk (almond milk, soy milk)
• Sardines

-Chloride, along with sodium, helps maintain fluid balance and nerve function. Foods containing chloride include:
• Sea salt
• Olives
• Seaweed

If you would like learn more or book in for a personalised nutrition consultation our website is www.inspiredwellness.ie