Virginia Nutritional Therapy

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Virginia Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapist •International Lipedema Nutritionist• Women's Health Advocate I also offer zoom consultations worldwide.

Virginia Ziulu DipNT mNTOI

I am passionate about good Food and Nutrition and I strongly believe that every person is unique and therefore has different dietary requirements. My aim is to provide you with the best possible tools and knowledge in order to improve your quality of life. I offer 1:1 private consultations in the Active Body Clinic, Portlaoise and Roches in Dublin. Areas of expertise:

Lipedema and Lymphedema,Thyroid dysfunctions,Menstrual irregularities:Endometriosis, Fibroids, PCOS, Peri-Menopause, Menopause. Men's Wellness support: Sport and athletic performance

Fatigue, Sleep disturbances,Immune health. Healthy weight management support: Mindset coaching, Food education. Digestive wellbeing, Sleep fundamentals. Stress and lifestyle coaching, lifestyle support tools.

15/04/2026

My last reel started a debate that we should have had back in 2005 when I first set my foot into Ireland. A beautiful country with beautiful people that welcomed me from day 1 and gave me the opportunity to live a good quality of life which my own country would have never given me.

But there was always one thing that I couldn't understand...why all these beautiful green lands and no local food being made...why was all dairy limited to 1/2 cheeses and why so many limited Irish produce. I just couldn't understand. The food in the supermarkets tasted awful, underripe, hard tasteless and looked fake. Myself and my now husband decided we have to grow our own food somehow...we miss it so much ...

So we started with an indoor light system to grow herbs and a little greenhouse outside in our first rented accomodation. We didn't have space and money to rent anything else.

Then we bought our first home and the goal was a decent size garden to grow some food. Then we expanded into an allotment and the final expansion where we bought our forever home with some decent land....the dream came through.

Between my cancer diagnosis in 2016 and the birth of my 2 children I wanted a place where I could grow most of my own food and let my children learn this life skill with us while I took some time off from my Nutritional therapy career.

During Covid I studied Organic horticulture and loved it. That's it we have to open a business and share our passion with others...my husband left his job( as the sole home provider) to open . In the meantime I was left to hold the fourth which nearly broke me.

2 years later we decided to close that business because it became non-viable due to lack of business and sales..we tried...we really did. But the market was not ready for it.

Will I do it over again as a business? No. But I will continue to grow my own food and motivate every single client in my clinic to grow their own and buy local.

When I hear nothing grows in Ireland I get really frustrated because Ireland has huge potential...and we need to fight for it!

13/04/2026

🧬Genetics and toxins

After yesterday's reels I got such a huge positive response. But there is a reason why I'm so passionate about this topic and it is a personal one.

I explain how genetic testing can be powerful in supporting your body and understanding your own sensitivities. We may not be able to block off everything but we can assist our bodies in the best possible ways with lifestyle modifications and supplements to support our biology.

Some of my key findings( before I got to act on them) were poor detoxification genes and slow estrogen metabolism. Meaning that my body can struggle to clear ANY toxins, medications, pollution etc. and with Lipedema and sluggish lymphatics this is not in my favour.

I also have a high risk of burnout due to a low stress tolerance and my body doesn't function very well with poor sleep( as in metabolically and functionally not by just being tired).

Did you know understanding your genes was so important?

But also equally as important putting them into perspective has having a gene doesn't automatically convert into bad things. But when you have all the dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors against you it will definitely have a huge impact.

08/04/2026

Lipedema and shorts

I can't believe I have not owned a pair of shorts since my teens. Last week I looked back at some of my teens photos and I remembered how long it had been since I actually bought shorts.

⏬I have been very self conscious about my legs all my life but moreso since I am in the profession I am in. There always has been a feeling of not being good enough and guilty about my Lipedema progression over the years as if this was all my fault.

In fact this negative thinking was only sabotaging my own health and nervous system. I never paused and reflected on how much my body has been through in the past 20 years. Moving to a completely new country, an unexpected abdominal surgery in my early 20s, a cancer while pregnant...

Sometimes I ask myself how the hell I coped with all of these?

So the year I turn 40 has to be the year where i finally make peace with my Lipedema body and myself. Also the year I'm buying all the shorts...and maybe I can allow myself some credit for the person I am today.

I hope this post inspires you to do the same...and don't wait until you are 40. You are more than enough just the way you are 💜.

06/04/2026

‼️Mounjaro and Pancreatitis

Last week we spoke about the difference between standard dosing and "micro" dosing. Today I want to address another important issue that can arise from using standard dosing GLP1s: gallbladder sludge which is the n.1 cause of pancreatitis in GLP-1 users.

Let me break it down 👇

1️⃣Glp1s slow down gastric motility( at any dosage but much less in micro) and with this slowing down you can get an accumulation of Biliary sludge (or gallbladder sludge) which is a mixture of bile, calcium bilirubinate, and cholesterol crystals that accumulates in the gallbladder when bile remains too long.

2️⃣Gallbladder sludge can cause acute pancreatitis by migrating into the bile duct and blocking the pancreatic duct, causing inflammation.

3️⃣When someone starts a GLP1 medication without solid nutrition support this is very likely to happen regardless of the individual person predisposition to gallstones. This can happen slowly or fast enough to get you unwell and hospitalized.

But this is not a medication issue. This is a lack of monitoring and guidance issues. It's a dosage issue, it's lack of pre therapy care and continuous support which goes beyond upping the meds every 4 weeks if "no" side effects.

What are the signs of a sluggish gallbladder to 👀 for:

🔴Dull, steady, or stabbing pain in the upper right abdomen, potentially radiating to the back or under the shoulder blade
🔴Light-colored or clay-colored stools and sometimes darker urine.
🟠Acid reflux( both acid and silent). Especially after fatty meals.
🟠Being on the contraceptive pill can increase the risk of gallbladder issues, such as gallstones, because the estrogen and progestin in the pills alter bile composition and decrease gallbladder motility.
🟠Chronic constipation( even every second day)

This is WHY it's crucial to address ANY digestive issues before starting GLP1 therapy and during it. Next post we are going to talk about how you can support your gallbladder function and digestion.

03/04/2026

👉Lipedema update

It's a long one...so hang in there.

Did you know that Amiltriptelyne is also used in the treatment and management of MCAS and it is one of the most potent anti-histamines acting on the histamine H1 receptors. This is why it has a very strong sedative effect. It also influences body fluids and reduces swelling but it is notorious for lowering blood pressure and worsening orthostatic hypotension alongside altering heart rhythm.

Although classed as an anti depressant it is very commonly used as an anti-inflammatory for chronic pain and migraine prevention. It comes with its side effects especially in a very sensitive nervous system. But it has a lot of positive outcomes for many.

Have you ever been on Amiltriptelyne and what was your experience? 👇

01/04/2026

🆕🎉Women's Health Metabolic Assessment

👉I am thrilled to announce that the Lipedema Metabolic Assessment has now been extended to women without Lipedema suffering from Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, endometriosis, adenomyosis, long Covid and chronic illnesses.

This has been a long time coming and something i have been working on in the background with Dr. Scully. This new clinic will open on Friday the 8th of May and it will be located in the GP practice in Tipperary( details on the form you will receive in your DMs)

This will be a now blended clinic with Lipedema and non Lipedema and it can be in both locations depending on specific needs. Please specify this on your email request. This is an in person only clinic.

To find out more comment the word "metabolic" and it will be straight in your DMs.

This is a unique service in Ireland that is designed to give expert guidance, support and a voice to women struggling with chronic illnesses.

* This service is fully refundable with ALL health insurance providers.

30/03/2026

🆕Date - Lipedema Metabolic Assessment

⏩⏩16th of April. A new date has been added for the highly requested Lipedema Metabolic clinic.

You can book your place by filling out the Metabolic Assessment form on my website.

Only 6 spots left for April. Make sure to book yours soon to avoid disappointment.

ROI and UK Lipedema patients only.

25/03/2026

Tirzepatide and swelling

90% of Lipedema patients report a significant improvement in swelling and pain during the day while on Tirzapatide. Then...they come off it pre surgery and their legs start to swell up again and the pain comes back ....let me explain...

👉 Tirzepatide alone isn't going to fix the fundamental issue causing Lipedema swelling and pain⏩fibrosis. Tirzepatide is a messenger and it helps to calm down things while you get to work on improving the system. It reduces the inflammatory chemicals involved in Lipedema but doesn't fix the root cause of why this is happening. So the minute you stop it swelling will come back. That is pretty normal.

👉Digestion has a fundamental part to play in terms of blood vessels health as that's how nutrients are absorbed and carried around the body!! The liver and gallbladder are 2 fundamental organs to keep in top shape. When you take a higher dosage of tirzepatide you are bringing these 2 organs into quite significant stress and potentially increasing inflammation in other areas of the body.

This is WHY keeping the dose low with minimal side effects will make Tirzepatide anti inflammatory effect even more beneficial. You need to address your metabolic health before anything significant will ever change even with Tirzepatide. This is crucial.

A particular thanks to the research work of .ssa_serena_michelini and Sandro Michelini alongside which will continue to shape future better care for Lipedema patients.

Did you know this?

22/03/2026

Progesterone sensitivity

You have asked and I answered. Probably one of the most common questions I get asked amongst my Lipedema clients and many women with ADHD( diagnosed and undiagnosed).

What you need to know?

1️⃣You can still take progesterone and finding the right administration method/ dosage and timing is crucial. Don't give up on progesterone as it's SO important for us.

2️⃣Check your genes( particularly MTHFR, COMT and MAO) . These genes are all "actionable" which means you can do something about it. I run this test in my clinic regularly to efficiently maximize personalized nutrient therapy.

3️⃣Work on cortisol regulation aka nervous system regulation. This is not just taking a couple of deep breaths a day but it starts the minute you wake up, to what you put into your mouth and how you put it in and how you go about your day before bed. Circadian rhythm regulation.

Have you heard these before?

Address

Active Body Clinic
Port Laoise
R32K295

Website

http://virginiashealthcorner.ie/

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