Ciara Ryan Nutrition

16/11/2025

🔥 My hot take on health advice and social media:
If it doesn’t go viral, it probably works.

I’ve always suspected this — but a little experiment this week confirmed it.
While researching for my new blog on online health trends, I started searching TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook for examples. Within hours my feed was flooded with “fat-burning smoothies,” “7-day hormone resets,” and “simple detox hacks.”

All I did was look — and suddenly the algorithm decided that’s who I was.

No wonder we’re all seeing the same “quick fixes.”

Even more shocking? A study by Dublin City University and MyFitnessPal found that 57% of users are influenced by social media health trends — yet only 2% of the videos analysed were accurate compared to public health advice. Two percent.

So how do you make sense of it all?

That’s what I explore in this week’s blog — how these trends spread so fast, why we keep seeing them, and how even good intentions can turn into overwhelm.

👇 You’ll find the link in comments for the full article.

12/11/2025

Last weekend was a busy and enlightening two days in Croke Park for the 8th Annual Lifestyle & Functional Medicine Conference, Ireland. Such a brilliant venue and a line-up of fantastic speakers.

A few highlights that stood out for me:

- Dr Joel Evans on the oral microbiome — how our mouth health connects to inflammation, gut health and even our risk for cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.
- Dr Denise Furness on epigenetics, healthy ageing and hormone metabolism. (Time to dig out my DNA panel and DUTCH test again!)
- Dr Michael Stone on the art of observation in clinical practice — a good reminder of the importance of simply looking and listening.
- Dr Shania Seeber shared fascinating case studies on gut health and the microbiome, including some next-generation stool tests I can’t wait to explore.
- Dr Shandeep Momi spoke on the thyroid’s central role in fertility and hormonal harmony.
- Dr Michelle Leary covered cardiometabolic health in menopause — the role of genetics, diet and lifestyle.
- And Dr Joseph Pizzorno, whose Textbook of Functional Medicine was one of the first books I ever bought on health, spoke about environmental toxins and longevity. Let’s just say… a few changes will be made at home after that one 😉!

Always something new to learn, and always something that deepens the way we think about health.
Lovely to catch up with colleagues and meet new faces too 💚.

Lifestyle & Functional Medicine, Ireland Vital Nutrition Dr. Denise Furness, PhD. Dr Michelle Leary

11/11/2025

FREE event Wed evening for new mums, mums-to-be and women planning ahead 💚.

Tomorrow I will be joining the brilliant Bodyright Physio team for a free evening on Perinatal Fitness, Nutrition & Health.

It’s a relaxed, informative session where we’ll talk about:
✅ Moving safely through pregnancy & postnatal recovery
✅ Simple nutrition shifts for energy, healing & baby’s health
✅ Pelvic floor, posture & stress management 🫄

➡️ Wed 12 Nov | 🕕 6:30pm
➡️ 27 Fair St, Drogheda & online
This is a free event but places are limited so save your seat today.

Come join us — it’s going to be a lovely, supportive evening. See comments for details and booking info 👇.

07/11/2025

Can’t wait to join Bodyright Physiotherapy next Tuesday for this free evening on Perinatal Fitness, Nutrition & Health! 🌿

I’ll be sharing simple, practical nutrition advice to help you feel energised and supported during pregnancy and beyond.

There are limited spaces still available — it’s free, relaxed and full of great advice from trusted women’s health experts.

See comments for details and booking info 👇.

Final reminder our FREE Perinatal Fitness, Nutrition & Health Workshop is next week! Our in clinic spaces are full but we would love you to join us via Zoom.

It’s a relaxed, informative session designed to help you:
🌿 Move confidently during pregnancy and postpartum
🍎 Understand what your body truly needs nutritionally
🧘‍♀️ Build strength and resilience for motherhood

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and connect with other local mums.

Led by Chartered Physiotherapist Louise Hynes and Nutritional Therapist .ryannt , this session blends physiotherapy, women’s health and practical lifestyle guidance.

📅 Date: 12th of November at 18:30
📍 Location: 27 Fair St, Drogheda
💰 Cost: Free (limited places available!)

👉 Drop us a DM to join us online or email us at info@bodyrightphysio.ie

We’d love to help you feel strong, informed and supported through every chapter of your journey.

The BodyRight Team.

04/11/2025

Trying to fix your health without understanding what’s really going on is like doing a jigsaw without the picture on the box.
You’ve got all the pieces — energy dips, bloating, low mood, restless sleep — but no idea how they fit together.

So you try to force the ones that look like they should belong: more supplements, another new diet, a bit of everything.

But when you finally see the whole picture, the confusion starts to make sense.
You can stop chasing “fixes” and start building a plan that’s truly yours.

That’s exactly what we do.
We help you connect the dots between digestion, hormones, nutrients, and stress by getting a clearer understanding of what’s happening inside your body.
We identify where your system needs support and how to bring it back into balance — so you can stop guessing and start feeling like yourself again.

No overwhelm, no confusion — just clarity, direction, and a plan built around you.

So if you’ve been doing all the right things but still don’t feel right, maybe it’s time to look a little deeper.

DM and let’s chat about your FREE Health Review today.
Let’s fit together the pieces of your puzzle.

02/11/2025

A bag full of half-used vitamins and supplements.
A body that still feels exhausted.
There’s a reason those two things can exist at the same time.

In this week’s email, I shared a story about a client who arrived with a brown paper bag full of vitamins — magnesium, probiotics, B12, even something called “Adrenal Support.”
She’d tried them all.
And yet, she still felt off — tired, bloated, flat.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter what supplements you’re taking if your body’s not in balance.
If digestion’s sluggish or hormones are out of sync, taking more supplements is like stocking a fridge that’s not plugged in — all that goodness just goes to waste.

That’s why, before adding anything new, we look at what’s already going on inside.
Sometimes simple blood results tell part of the story.
Other times, functional testing — like stool or SIBO testing — helps us see the full picture.

Because once you see that bigger picture, everything starts to make sense — and you can finally start finding your way back to feeling like yourself again.

Want the full story?
Check your inbox for this week’s email, or see link in comments 👇.
(Oh and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss another update 😉).

26/10/2025

We all love a good scroll through our socials — you’re doing it right now!

There’s no denying, we often find inspiring (or dare I say, aspirational) content that makes us want to be healthier, thinner, more alive. But the gap between what’s promised online and what’s real can leave us feeling more confused, isolated, and utterly deflated.

In this week’s email, I share what happened to one client who got caught up following some of these trends — and the impact it had on their health.

Check your inbox for this eye-opening read, or link in comments!
ADD LINK!!!!!

BTW, I’m currently gathering readers’ experiences of online trends around food and health, and I’d love your help. Have you noticed these trends in your feed? Which ones stand out? Have you tried any — and what was the outcome?

Your stories will help shape my next blog on the biggest myths in nutrition. Comment below or DM me if you prefer — all stories will be kept anonymous.

18/10/2025

A few years back I got a GP text that made me laugh out loud.
“All good… except cholesterol. Eat less red meat and exercise more.”

Funny thing is, I haven’t eaten meat since I was a teenager. And I’m a nutritional therapist of 15 years and I’ve seen well over 1000 clients.

So yes — I did a double-take at the 7 on the screen.
Then I remembered: midlife.

In our forties, cholesterol can rise for reasons that have nothing to do with food or fitness. When hormones shift, so does the way we process fats — and that often shows up in blood tests long before menopause.

It’s a fitting topic for World Menopause Day, which this year focuses on lifestyle medicine — because midlife isn’t about blaming ourselves for what’s changing, it’s about finding new ways to work with our bodies, not against them.

If you’ve had a similar surprise, take a breath before you panic or overhaul your diet. I’ve explained what might really be happening (calmly and clearly) in this week’s article. See comments to get the blog.

Share it with a friend — you might not be the only one getting that unexpected text from the GP.

30/09/2025

I’ll never forget this one: heavily pregnant, late for a wedding, heartburn raging 🔥… I grabbed what I thought was Gaviscon and took a swig. Turns out it was calamine lotion.

It gave me a laugh (and a lesson 🤢). Quick fixes can be handy, but they’re not the long-term answer, especially when reflux is an everyday thing.

In my new blog I share what I’d do if I were dealing with acid reflux today. From why “too much acid” isn’t always the problem, to the hidden triggers that keep reflux coming back, it’s a new way of looking at a problem many of us have learned to live with (and don’t need to).

See link in comments for the full blog 👇!

If reflux is affecting your day-to-day, this is for you.

23/09/2025

I get the lure of weight loss injections, I really do.

After years of cutting carbs, skipping treats, dragging yourself out for a step class, the promise of something easier is tempting. Especially when you’ve tried every diet and eating plan and none of them stick.

But if diets worked, you wouldn’t be starting over every Monday.

Fewer cravings, eating less, better sleep and more energy. Those are the wins people want, right?
They’re also the exact words my clients use after working with me. And they get there without the weekly jab or the price tag.

Because willpower was never the problem.

The real difference comes when you support your body — your hormones, your stage of life, your stress, your daily habits.
Cutting carbs only works until your blood sugar crashes. Skipping meals only fuels the cravings you end up giving into.
But when meals keep you full through the school run and workday, when the 4pm crash isn’t running the show, food starts to feel easy again.

That’s when weight loss becomes the side effect, not the struggle.

Imagine walking in the door after work with energy to enjoy the evening, instead of collapsing on the sofa. That’s the level we’re aiming for.

Our programme is built on real food, strategies that survive birthdays and busy weeks, and support so you don’t have to do it alone.

DM and let’s chat about how we can help you. No jargon, no judgement, just a clear next step.

14/09/2025

Ozempic (and similar medications) feel like the magic bullet we’ve all be waiting for.

But talk to a few people and you’ll hear every possible take on it.
👉 One person swears by it.
👉 Someone else “couldn’t handle the side effects.”
👉 And the next person wouldn’t dream of touching it.

No wonder it leaves your head in a spin 🫨.

In clinic, we’re seeing more and more clients prescribed these medications — and that’s why I wanted to share our perspective as Nutritional Therapists.

This week’s blog looks at what these drugs actually do, the common side effects, what you should be eating while on them, and how to make them as effective as possible.

And I share the one piece of advice I give every client who walks through the door.

If you’ve been prescribed GLP-1s, or you know someone who has, this is an important read. Please feel free to share it on so friends and family can stay informed too.

🔗 You’ll find the link in the comments. Or DM me if you’d like me to send it directly.

And if you’ve got questions or just want to talk through your own experience, I’m always happy to chat and listen.

07/09/2025

Confession: most of my clients give me a look when I suggest beans.

You know, the one that says: ‘Fine, Ciara 🙄, but I’m not a vegetarian… and I don’t fancy lentils.’

I get it. We didn’t exactly grow up eating a variety of beans unless they came from a can and served piping over toast (comfort food at it’s best)! Pulses were usually seen as “alternative.” Something only veggies ate.

HOWEVER! Beans and pulses are very understated overachievers of the food world.
• They’re packed with fibre + plant protein.
• They’re cheap, filling, and ridiculously versatile.
• And they help keep your gut and heart happy, while making cravings less of a thing.
Not so boring after all 😉.

And when you find a few recipes to you enjoy, well you’re all set.

👀 Oh and look, we happen to be sharing 3 delicious recipes over on our website right now!

👉 Dahl, Lentil Bolognese, and Greek Butter Beans.

You’ll find them on our blog (see comments). Or DM and I’ll send you the links.

Pick one and see if beans can win you over this week.