It is always gratifying to receive positive feedback from our wonderful patients.
...
Apr 17
It is always gratifying to receive positive feedback from our wonderful patients.
"I want to start with my health history, build you a picture of how much my life has changed because of Susan Carr and Perth Allergy Clinic.
Growing up I had problems with my health. Extreme colds/flus, sensitivity to smells, chronic pains, occasional extreme dose of hives, swelling/water retention, anxiety, depression, behaviour disorders, restlessness. It impacted my life more than I knew. I had problems learning, playing sports, making friends and later keeping a job.
One of the things I had no idea was that I had intolerances to certain foods, temperatures/humidity and physical pressure/skin sensitivity. Neither did the doctors. My mother would take me to the doctor, do some tests and say there is nothing wrong with me.
The last 5 years had been the most stressful, the most chronic and acute of my conditions because at one stage I was ingesting 11 pharmaceutical tablets a day to function at all. An Immunologist diagnosis was Chronic and Acute Urticaria Angioedema Dermatographism and a doctor who figured out I had Erythromelalgia and a Gynaecologist said I had Chronic Pain. I have also other diagnosis but I want to concentrate on these conditions.
Friends had recommended me to see Susan and it is the greatest thing I could have done. Because at this point I was eating 1 meal a day, in pain constantly and at risk of losing my job again due to flare ups.
Since seeing Susan from Oct 2019 I eat 3 meals a day, I go to work, I am active and I fit into clothes I have not been able to wear for 8 years. I have control of my life again. Not only that, it changed my husband’s way of life too.
I think the hardest thing to do is take that step and trust that it could work. I tell anyone to take that leap of faith and go see Susan Carr at Perth Allergy Clinic. Because it just might change your life. It might change how you live."
Food can play a huge role in the way we feel. Our stress levels have never been higher, and with ...
Apr 14
Food can play a huge role in the way we feel. Our stress levels have never been higher, and with social isolation in place and an uncertain future timeline of a return to “normal”, it is no wonder many of us are struggling with low mood and general anxiety.
This daily stress not only affects our mental health, but is also a key driver behind inflammation and increased disease risk. The good news is that we can help nourish and support our body through food to reduce the effects of daily stress and boost our mental health.
Research has shown us that regularly consuming a nourishing, wholefoods diet rich in key nutrients can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety significantly. It doesn’t have to be a complete dietary overhaul – make small changes and include what you enjoy – eating well shouldn’t be a chore!
Here are our top five mood-boosting foods:
🥚Eggs - these little gems are full of protein, vitamin D. vitamin B12 and choline, which can improve help mood and support the nervous system.
🍅Tomatoes – Rich in Folate and alpha-lipoic acid, these are both key nutrients in stabilising mood. Folic acid helps to regulate levels of inflammatory Homocysteine, which can block production of serotonin and dopamine.
🐟Oily fish - rich in omega-3 fatty acids, they play a key role in brain signalling and are linked to lower levels of depression, anxiety and PMS! Don't eat fish? Get your omega-3's from walnuts, avocados chia and flaxseeds.
🥬Fermented food - food such as Kim chi, sauerkraut, yoghurt and kefir support the live bacteria in our digestive systems which are vital in producing serotonin (our good mood hormone!)
🍫Dark Chocolate - not only delicious, good quality dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which have been shown to increase blood flow to your brain and regulate mood. It is also high in magnesium, vital for supporting our whole nervous system!
If you find this helpful, or know someone who needs to know this information tag them below, or DM us with any questions you might have 💛
Immune-boosting, Gut-healing Chicken soup! 🍲
As the weather cools down and we head...
Apr 10
Immune-boosting, Gut-healing Chicken soup! 🍲
As the weather cools down and we head into cold and flu season, don’t forget to support your immune system and gut health to see you through the season with your health intact!
This soup is full of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, as well as bone broth to support and heal your gut lining. Make it in bulk and freeze for when you feel a sniffle coming on!
You will need:
• 2 inch fresh ginger
• 1 inch fresh turmeric
• 3-4 large clove garlic
• 1 bunch fresh coriander
• 2 shallots, quartered
• 1 red chilli, seeds removed (or more if you like a spicier soup!)
• 1 litre chicken bone broth (make your own or use an organic pre-made version)
• 400g coconut milk
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 Tbs fish sauce
• 200-300g cooked chicken thigh, shredded.
Method:
1. Finely mince or grate ginger, turmeric and garlic. Add to a bowl with finely chopped coriander, shallots and chilli. Set aside.
2. Place half of the herb mixture into a large saucepan, add broth, and simmer for 10 mins.
3. Add coconut milk, lemon and fish sauce and simmer another 10 mins.
4. Add cooked shredded chicken and simmer until warmed through.
5. Add remaining minced herbs, garlic, ginger, turmeric mixture, and stir through.
6. Pour into bowls, and garnish with extra spring onions and coriander if desired.
Enjoy! 💛
Did you know there is a strong link between autoimmunity and the gut?
Leading ...
Apr 8
Did you know there is a strong link between autoimmunity and the gut?
Leading researcher, Dr Alessio Fasano identified that intestinal permeability or “leaky gut” was one of the key factors in triggering autoimmunity.
When the tight gap junctions of the intestine become permeable, this results in food proteins and toxins leaking into the bloodstream where our immune system identifies these particles as foreign invaders and mounts an attack to defend the body.
Autoimmunity can arise when our immune system goes into overdrive and loses the ability to differentiate between pathogens in the body and our own cells and begins targeting our own tissues resulting in inflammation, dysfunction and a myriad of symptoms dependent on the autoimmune disease.
Many food proteins have a similar molecular structure to our own body cells which can result in a case of mistaken identity for our immune system. This is known as ‘Molecular Mimicry’.
Intestinal Permeability can be caused by:
- Dysbiosis: caused by diet or overuse of antibiotics;
- Food intolerances or allergies;
- Gut infections or overgrowths;
- Certain foods ie. gluten by increasing zonulin;
- Pesticides and environmental toxins such as glyphosate;
- Excess alcohol consumption;
- NSAID’s and other medications;
Healing and sealing the gut can improve symptoms and is an important piece of the puzzle to address in autoimmunity pathogenesis.
If you are struggling with autoimmunity, don’t deal with it alone! Let one of our experienced practitioners help you navigate your path back to wellness! 💛
Fasano A. All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases. F1000Res. 2020 Jan 31;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-69. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.20510.1. PMID: 32051759; PMCID: PMC6996528.
Hi! I’m Chantal, Clinical Nutritionist and Allergy Advisor at Perth Allergy Clinic.
...
Mar 24
Hi! I’m Chantal, Clinical Nutritionist and Allergy Advisor at Perth Allergy Clinic.
My Approach; I pride myself on providing the highest level of client care and I enjoy treating a diverse range of conditions. By taking a holistic, scientific and empathetic approach to treatment I aim to uncover the underlying cause of symptoms.
I am by nature a compassionate yet pragmatic practitioner supporting my clients to reach their health goals with achievable and practical strategies.
A comprehensive combination of nutritional medicine, lifestyle counselling, functional testing and supplements I find are the best tools to help with my client’s journey. My role is to uniquely personalise this combination of modalities to each client to achieve optimal results.
On a personal level my passion for nutrition stems from my own personal health struggles and subsequent success in restoring health with nutrition and lifestyle changes.
My own journey and its struggles have committed and inspired me to take my nutritional degree and to become a life-long student; constantly researching and keeping up to date with the latest developments in functional medicine and nutritional science.
Apart from inspiring others to be the best that they can be, I have special interests in auto-immunity, digestive health and women’s hormones and fertility.
I am fulfilled so often by being able to inspire and to impart knowledge to my clients by encouraging them to take a proactive role in their health and well-being and ultimately to live happier, healthier, more complete lives.
Making positive changes to improve nutrition leads to positive changes in mood, sleep and energy which will impact on all areas of life !
I look forward joining and partnering with you on your pathway to your best health and wellness. 💛
Guess what? Happy skin and good health begin in your gut. To achieve a healthy gut, we need to ...
Mar 20
Guess what? Happy skin and good health begin in your gut. To achieve a healthy gut, we need to support good bacteria in our digestive system.
The gut is where 70% of your immune system lies, where we metabolise hormones, where we make nutrients and neurotransmitters, create detoxifying enzymes and neutralise pathogens. All of these processes can profoundly affect us if not in balance or working properly.
Unfortunately, beneficial gut bacteria is not a big fan of many of the lifestyle factors that are synonymous with modern living. Things you never thought of could be your trigger such as stress & mental overwhelm and other triggers such as allergies, food intolerances, nutritional deficiency, toxicity, antibiotics, alcohol and sugar can all compromise good bacteria and feed the pathogenic bacteria.
We know how tiring it can get trying to figure out what’s going on with your skin so here are our top 10 tips to help you achieve a happy and healthy complexion;
🥦 Favour Certified Organic foods - eating well encourages the growth of good bacteria.
🧘♂️ De-stress
😴 Good sleep hygiene
😋 Eat slowly and enjoy
💦 Stay hydrated
💩 Daily healthy bowel movements
🍬 Avoid high sugar
🥬 Feed your microbiome organic fermented foods
🥣 Collagen rich organic bone broth great prebiotic
✅ VIP - Get tested for Food Intolerances
If you can't pinpoint the culprit then let us help you find the root cause of what is making your skin unhappy!
Take advantage of our 220 food allergy test for $499 (usually $775) where each food is individually reported and quantified.
Thank you Francisco for your lovely words. It is always gratifying to receive positive feedback from...
Mar 18
Thank you Francisco for your lovely words. It is always gratifying to receive positive feedback from our wonderful patients.
"I came across Perth Allergy Clinic when I went for holidays in Perth, after almost seven months of intense, draining and horrific allergic reactions on my son's skin and wow what an absolutely amazing group of dedicated professionals, who care and are dedicated to seeing a great progression in my son's health.
My son GP and specialist put him on a strong steroids cream and Telfast and Zyrtec tables. Yes, it helped maintain the reactions, however it only masked the issue and did not resolve anything. In the first appointment I found out my son was allergic to a bunch of things. I'm furious that my son's allergist specialist hadn't tested for these things after being with him for over 6 months and my son suffering from allergies and horrible eczema. Really happy with Priya, I wish I had seen her first. Priya immediately put my son on a prescription of natural supplements and I noticed a difference almost immediately. His hives went from every day to the odd occasion. My son has now completed an intolerance test and was amazed at all of these foods his body was intolerant to.
Priya has been informative, considerate and reliable. During my son consultation I found Priya to be patient and understanding towards my son and me. I arrive there feeling like "here we go again" and leaving feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders for almost 7 months. Holly (the nutritionist) has also blown me away with her dedication, and amazing recipes. She has been able to create a great meal plan for my son, taking into consideration the amount of foods that my son his intolerant to and with rotational meal plans to help my son improve his health and overall well being immensely. Priya is extremely friendly, welcoming and understanding and I cannot thank her enough for the time she has taken to personalize the plans thus far.
My son is well and truly on his way to complete recovery and cannot thank Priya enough. You are amazing, and I recommend it. Thank you :)"
Contact us to learn more about allergies and how we can support you! 💛
Lifestyle Considerations:
🧘🏼STRESS: Can exacerbate GORD symptoms and severity ...
Mar 11
Lifestyle Considerations:
🧘🏼STRESS: Can exacerbate GORD symptoms and severity so finding ways to manage and reduce stress is important; acupuncture, deep breathing exercises and meditation can help.
🕑TIMING OF MEALS: Don’t eat dinner too late - you should eat no less than 2 hours before going to bed and try not snack after dinner!
🤢AVOID OVER-EATING: When we overeat, the stomach distends and this pressure increases reflux symptoms. Instead, have smaller, regular meals every 4 hours. Eat slowly and chew food well.
🏃🏽♀️REGULAR EXERCISE: Exercise seems to be protective against GORD and weight management can help reduce pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS). Weight loss, if overweight, can also reduce GORD symptoms.
🛌🏼SLEEPING POSITIONS: Raise the foot of the bed by 15 - 20 cm. Additionally, try sleeping on your left-side as much as possible.
💦HYDRATION: Drinking at least 2 litres of water a day is ideal. Avoid drinking water or other beverages with meals - drink between meals, not with meal.
❌ AVOID ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE & SMOKING: These are known triggers of GORD.
Diet Suggestions:
🎣INCREASE EASY TO DIGEST PROTEIN: Fish, slow- cooked meats, legumes/nuts/seeds (soaked overnight before cooking)
🥒BOOST DAILY CONSUMPTION OF FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES: Low intake of these increases risk of developing GORD.
🍭AVOID 'TRIGGER' FOODS: Every person will be triggered by different foods. Keeping a diet/symptom diary is a great way to figure out which foods are your own personal trigger foods. Remember, sometimes it is not what we eat, but how we eat it that will cause reflux.
If you find this helpful, or know someone who needs to know this information tag them below, or DM us with any questions you might have 💛
SIBO friendly dessert! 🍋💛🧁
If you are following a SIBO dietary protocol and missing your sweet treats – this zesty slice will satisfy your sweet tooth AND keep you on track with your digestive healing!
Base
1 ½ cups desiccated coconut
¾ cup macadamia nuts
2tbs coconut milk
Rind of one lemon
Juice of half a lemon
3 tbs coconut oil
2tbsp maple syrup
Topping
½ cup organic coconut milk
½ lemon, rind and juice
1tsp pure maple syrup , or 3 drops liquid stevia.
1 tsp powdered organic gelatine
Extra desiccated coconut for sprinkling
Method
Place all of the ingredients for the base in a food processor. Blitz until finely chopped and all combined.
Line a loaf pan with baking paper. Tip the base mixture into the pan and then flatten to cover the base of the pan evenly. Place in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.
Meanwhile, make the topping. Pour the coconut milk, lemon rind, juice and stevia into a bowl. Mix to combine. Melt the gelatine in ¼ cup hot water. Stir until combined then pour into the coconut mixture. Stir to combine.
Pour the topping over the base then return to the fridge for 1 hour, or until set.
Remove the slice from the pan and cut into cubes. Sprinkle with extra desiccated coconut and Enjoy!!