Health, Wellness and Aesthetics

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

Your body is always sending signals.

Cortisol imbalance often looks like anxiety, wired-but-tired energy, stubborn belly fat, or waking up at 2 a.m.
Thyroid issues show up as fatigue, brain fog, cold hands and feet, slow digestion, and thinning hair.
Insulin imbalance can look like cravings, crashes, mid-day exhaustion, and weight that won’t budge.

Different hormones…different symptoms…but one message: something’s out of balance.

03/12/2025

Your body has a master clock hidden deep in the brain, and it quietly controls almost everything you feel during the day.
This chart shows what that clock is actually doing, and why your sleep, hunger, hormones, energy, and mood follow the same 24-hour rhythm every single day.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

⏰ The “master clock” lives in the "SCN" (as its abbreviated)
Located in the hypothalamus, it takes in light from your eyes and uses it to reset your entire system.
• Light in the morning tells your brain: wake up, raise cortisol, increase alertness.
• Darkness at night flips the switch: make melatonin, lower body temperature, prepare for sleep.

🌙 Melatonin rises only when the SCN says it’s dark
The pineal gland releases melatonin to start the sleep process.
If light hits your eyes at night (phones, TVs, bright LEDs), that signal can shut off or slow down.

😴 Serotonin and melatonin are linked
During the day, serotonin helps regulate mood and alertness.
At night, the system converts part of that serotonin into melatonin to drive sleep timing.

🧠 Your organs follow the brain’s schedule
Every major organ has its own “clock genes,” and they all sync to the SCN.
That’s why timing matters:

Daytime:
• Muscle: glycolytic metabolism and strength performance peak
• Liver: glycogen and cholesterol synthesis
• Pancreas: insulin secretion
• Fat: lipogenesis and adiponectin production

Nighttime:
• Muscle: oxidative metabolism and repair
• Liver: gluconeogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis
• Pancreas: glucagon secretion
• Fat: lipid breakdown and leptin release (signals satiety)

In other words:
Your biology isn’t the same at 8 AM as it is at 8 PM.

🍽️ Food and activity act as “secondary clocks”
Eating late, irregular sleep, shift work, or inconsistent light exposure can confuse these clocks and throw off hormones, metabolism, and mood.

This is why:
• Morning light improves sleep
• Regular mealtimes stabilize metabolism
• Late-night eating increases glucose spikes
• Consistent sleep strengthens hormone rhythms
• Exercise timing can shift circadian signals

Your circadian rhythm isn’t just about sleep.
It’s a full-body timing system coordinating hormones, temperature, digestion, metabolism, and repair.

Get your light, food, and sleep aligned…
And the rest of your biology starts working with you instead of against you.

Graphic citation: Unknown
Research citation: PMID: 11584554

03/12/2025

Vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and magnesium are involved in a complex interplay inside your body.

Magnesium plays a key role in how your body uses vitamin D, while vitamin D levels can influence how magnesium is absorbed in the digestive system.

Meanwhile, vitamin K2 works in synergy with vitamin D to maintain calcium balance and regulate the deposition of calcium into bone tissue.

While magnesium supplements don’t have to be taken at the same time as vitamin D, it’s recommended to opt for a combined vitamin D3 and K2 when supplementing.

~ Theresa Higgo
Health, Wellness and Aesthetics

03/12/2025

Maltodextrin is the WORST ingredient hiding in your food!

It’s a refined starchy carbohydrate made by artificially bonding a cluster of sugar molecules. It’s highly processed and typically used as a filler in a wide range of packaged and processed foods.

Manufacturers use maltodextrin as a sweetener without having to list it as sugar on nutrition labels, allowing them to claim that a food is sugar-free despite significantly impacting blood sugar levels.

~ Theresa Higgo
Health, Wellness and Aesthetics

01/12/2025

Unresolved emotional trauma can deeply alter the body’s stress patterns, leaving the nervous system stuck in an extended period of survival mode. This can come from the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system via chronic fight, flight, freeze or shutdown responses. (Or even a mix of them)

Harvard research shows that long-term stress and trauma can make the nervous system hypersensitive, so that ordinary sensations are experienced as discomfort or pain. Over time, this heightened state can create chronic muscle tension and inflammation even when no clear medical issue is present. These are essentially bracing patterns within muscle and fascia that are storing emotion or unresolved responses to traumatic events like being yelled at, not having needs met, an accident, constant overriding and hustling to meet the needs of the modern world etc.

When inner wounds remain unhealed, the body often speaks the truth the mind isn’t ready to articulate.

Starting to work with this involves first building awareness of our body and how we feel..............

30/11/2025

The Hidden Danger of Iron Overload :

Most people think they’re “anemic” and need more iron… but the truth is shocking:

👉 The majority of us actually have too much stored iron — and not enough bioavailable copper to regulate it.

Here’s what happens when iron builds up in the body:

❌ Fatigue that never lifts
❌ Brain fog and mood struggles
❌ Inflammation and joint pain
❌ Higher risk of chronic disease

Why? Because iron is like a car 🚗 without brakes. It rusts in the tissues when copper and magnesium are low — creating oxidative stress and draining your energy.

💡
Most “anemia” isn’t a lack of iron, but a lack of ceruloplasmin (the copper-dependent protein that makes iron usable).
Piling on more iron (supplements, fortified foods, infusions) only makes the overload worse.
The key is restoring balance with real, whole food nutrients that bring copper, magnesium, and retinol back online.

🌱 When you support your mineral balance, your body can finally handle iron the way nature intended — safely and efficiently.

25/11/2025

Naturally Cleaning Your Arteries: A Guide to Cardiovascular Wellness
​Our arteries are vital highways, transporting oxygen-rich blood from our heart to every part of our body. Over time, factors like diet, lifestyle, and genetics can lead to plaque buildup, narrowing these essential pathways and increasing the risk of serious health issues like heart disease and stroke. The good news is that by adopting certain natural approaches, you can support arterial health and promote a cleaner, more efficient circulatory system.
​Here are some key strategies to consider:
​Embrace a Heart-Healthy Diet:
​Focus on Whole Foods: Prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential nutrients that protect your arteries.
​Limit Processed Foods: Reduce your intake of sugary drinks, trans fats, saturated fats, and highly processed snacks, which contribute to inflammation and plaque formation.
​Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Incorporate foods like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. Omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to improve cholesterol profiles.
​Stay Hydrated:
​Drinking enough water is crucial for overall circulatory health. Proper hydration helps maintain blood volume and can aid in the efficient transport of nutrients and waste products.
​Regular Physical Activity:
​Exercise is a powerful tool for cardiovascular health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week. This strengthens your heart, improves blood flow, and helps manage weight, all of which benefit your arteries.
​Manage Stress:
​Chronic stress can impact your blood pressure and contribute to inflammation, both detrimental to arterial health. Practice stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or spending time in nature.
​Prioritize Quality Sleep:
​Adequate sleep (7-9 hours per night for most adults) is essential for your body's repair processes, including those that maintain arterial health.
​Consider Natural Supplements (Consult Your Doctor First):
​While diet and lifestyle are paramount, certain supplements may offer additional support. These include:
​Garlic: Known for its potential to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
​Turmeric/Curcumin: A potent anti-inflammatory compound.
​Hawthorn Berry: Traditionally used to support heart health.
​Niacin (Vitamin B3): Can help improve cholesterol levels, but requires medical supervision due to potential side effects.
​Important Note: Before making significant changes to your diet, lifestyle, or starting any new supplements, it's crucial to consult with your healthcare provider. They can offer personalized advice based on your individual health profile and needs.
​By consistently applying these natural strategies, you can take proactive steps towards maintaining clean, healthy arteries and a stronger, more vibrant heart.
___________________________________

Hou Jou Are Skoon: 'n Natuurlike Benadering tot Hartgesondheid
​(Oorspronklike Hoofopskrif Reggestel: "Naturally Cleaning Your Arteries: A Guide to Cardiovascular Wellness" word vertaal as "Hou Jou Are Skoon: 'n Natuurlike Benadering tot Hartgesondheid")
​Ons are is noodsaaklike snelweë wat suurstofryke bloed van ons hart na elke deel van ons liggaam vervoer. Mettertyd kan faktore soos dieet, leefstyl en genetika lei tot die opbou van gedenkplaat, wat hierdie noodsaaklike paaie vernou en die risiko van ernstige gesondheidsprobleme soos hartsiektes en beroerte verhoog. Die goeie nuus is dat deur sekere natuurlike benaderings aan te neem, jy arteriële gesondheid kan ondersteun en 'n skoner, meer doeltreffende bloedsomloopstelsel kan bevorder.
​Hier is 'n paar sleutelstrategieë om te oorweeg:
​Omhels 'n Hartgesonde Dieet:
​Fokus op Heelvoedsel: Prioritiseer vrugte, groente, volgraan, maer proteïene en gesonde vette. Hierdie kosse is ryk aan antioksidante, vesel en noodsaaklike voedingstowwe wat jou are beskerm.
​Beperk Verwerkte Voedsel: Verminder jou inname van suikerhoudende drankies, transvette, versadigde vette en hoogs verwerkte versnaperinge, wat bydra tot inflammasie en gedenkplaatvorming.
​Omega-3 Vetsure: Sluit kosse soos vetterige vis (salm, makriel), vlasaad, chia saad en okkerneute in. Omega-3's is bekend vir hul anti-inflammatoriese eienskappe en hul vermoë om cholesterolprofiele te verbeter.
​Bly Gehidreer:
​Om genoeg water te drink is noodsaaklik vir algehele bloedsomloopgesondheid. Behoorlike hidrasie help om bloedvolume te handhaaf en kan help met die doeltreffende vervoer van voedingstowwe en afvalprodukte.
​Gereelde Fisiese Aktiwiteit:
​Oefening is 'n kragtige instrument vir kardiovaskulêre gesondheid. Mik vir ten minste 30 minute se matige intensiteit aktiwiteit die meeste dae van die week. Dit versterk jou hart, verbeter bloedvloei en help om gewig te bestuur, wat alles jou are bevoordeel.
​Bestuur Stres:
​Chroniese stres kan jou bloeddruk beïnvloed en bydra tot inflammasie, wat beide nadelig is vir arteriële gesondheid. Oefen stresverminderende tegnieke soos meditasie, joga, diep asemhalingsoefeninge of spandeer tyd in die natuur.
​Prioritiseer Kwaliteit Slaap:
​Voldoende slaap (7-9 uur per nag vir die meeste volwassenes) is noodsaaklik vir jou liggaam se herstelprosesse, insluitend dié wat arteriële gesondheid handhaaf.
​Oorweeg Natuurlike Aanvullings (Raadpleeg eers jou Dokter):
​Terwyl dieet en leefstyl van die grootste belang is, kan sekere aanvullings addisionele ondersteuning bied. Dit sluit in:
​Knoffel: Bekend vir sy potensiaal om bloeddruk en cholesterol te verlaag.
​Borrie/Kurkumien: 'n Sterk anti-inflammatoriese verbinding.
​Meidoringbessie: Tradisioneel gebruik om hartgesondheid te ondersteun.
​Niasien (Vitamien B3): Kan help om cholesterolvlakke te verbeter, maar vereis mediese toesig as gevolg van moontlike newe-effekte.
​Belangrike Nota: Voordat jy beduidende veranderinge aan jou dieet, leefstyl aanbring of enige nuwe aanvullings begin, is dit uiters belangrik om met jou gesondheidsorgverskaffer te konsulteer. Hulle kan persoonlike advies gee gebaseer op jou individuele gesondheidsprofiel en behoeftes.
​Deur hierdie natuurlike strategieë konsekwent toe te pas, kan jy proaktiewe stappe doen om skoon, gesonde are en 'n sterker, meer lewenskragtige hart te handhaaf.

~ Theresa Higgo
Health and Wellness

18/11/2025

A study by the University of Michigan found that eating blueberries every single day may actually inhibit the creation of new fat cells in the body.

Blueberries help inhibit fat cell creation (adipogenesis) and reduce fat storage by inhibiting fat gain at the molecular level, primarily through their rich content of polyphenols like anthocyanins. These compounds can decrease lipid (fat) content in tissue and induce lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fats.

These effects have been shown in mouse and cell studies and research is ongoing in humans, however, blueberries are one thing that EVERYONE (unless allergic or intolerant) should eat every single day. Blueberries are one of the healthiest foods due to their high content of vitamins, minerals, fiber and powerful antioxidants particularly anthocyanins, which offer protection against heart disease, cancer, inflammation and age-related cognitive decline.

PMID: 36676944