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Where to go strawberry picking near you (and why seasonality matters)

May 03, 2025

Where to go strawberry picking near you (and why seasonality matters)

There’s something about strawberries. Not the out of season, plastic wrapped ones that sit pale and hard on supermarket shelves in January, but the real ones. The ones that blush under the sun and smell sweet before you even bite into them. The kind you reach for with red-stained fingers and juice dripping down your wrists. The kind that taste of earth and heat and childhood. Right now, fields are filling with these ruby bright jewels, and we want to invite you into the rows. To pick your own. To kneel in soil, feel the sun on your back, and gather your fruit the old way, by hand, with patience and joy. Whether it’s a slow Saturday with the kids or a romantic afternoon walk with a basket in tow, strawberry picking is a love letter to the season itself. Why seasonality matters Seasonality is nature’s quiet rhythm, a cycle as ancient as the soil itself. It’s the way our ancestors ate for thousands of years: in sync with the land, the weather, and the slow shift of the sun. Today, we can eat strawberries in December and tomatoes in January, but just because we can doesn’t mean we should. It’s not just about better flavour (though truly, strawberries plucked warm from the field taste like sunlight itself). It’s about nutrient density, digestive alignment, and ecological balance. Fruits and vegetables grown in their natural season are more nutrient rich. When a plant grows in sync with its ideal climate and daylight hours, it doesn’t need artificial heat, chemical fertilisers, or long-haul transport. The result? Higher levels of key vitamins and minerals, better antioxidant profiles, and more beneficial plant compounds. Take strawberries in spring and early summer: • Vitamin C: vital for skin health, collagen synthesis, and immune support • Anthocyanins & Ellagic Acid: potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties • Fibre & Fructose: which, when eaten whole and in season, support blood sugar regulation and gut health And here’s something often overlooked: when you eat strawberries freshly picked, unwashed and raw, with the faint dusting of local soil still clinging to their skin,  you’re also feeding your gut with naturally occurring environmental microbes. These microbes diversify the gut microbiome, supporting digestion, immunity, and even mental clarity. Eating seasonally also keeps us in tune with our metabolic and circadian rhythms. In spring and early summer, lighter fruits and vegetables naturally help cleanse the body after the heavier, warming foods of winter,  aligning with the liver’s seasonal activity and our body's innate shift toward more energy and movement. But beyond biology, eating seasonally is a quiet rebellion against the industrial food system. It’s a gesture of reverence. A way of saying: I trust nature’s timing. Food is not just fuel. It’s a relationship. A living, changing thing, not a product, but a process. And when we choose to eat what the earth is offering now, we step back into that relationship with gratitude, humility, and joy. Where to go strawberry picking near you Before you head out, be sure to double check opening dates. Many of these farms begin offering strawberries in late May or early June depending on the weather. But we wanted to make sure you got first dibs. In the USA? Strawberry season’s in full swing coast to coast. Find your nearest pick-your-own patch at Pick your own then grab a basket and head out. Or if you’re UK, keep reading to find your specific farm below... South East England Crockford Bridge Farm (Addlestone, Surrey)One of the earliest openings in the country, Crockford’s strawberry fields begin blushing as early as May. After a slow morning in the rows, wander over to The Wilding Barn, the farm’s own shop and tearoom, where you’ll find homemade ice cream made with their own fruit from the farm. Maynards Fruit Farm (Ticehurst, East Sussex)Tucked into the wooded folds of the Weald, Maynards feels like the kind of place you stumble on by accident. Their fields roll gently across the hills, filled with jewel-bright strawberries and the buzz of bees. After picking, stop by their honesty stall for fresh cream and homemade jam. Parkside Farm (Enfield, North London)A secret garden within the M25, Parkside Farm offers a pause from the city’s pace. Rows of sun warmed strawberries stretch out and the air smells of green stems and ripening fruit. It's the perfect midweek escape, especially if you sneak in after school for a golden-hour wander. Lathcoats Farm (Chelmsford, Essex)A haven for heritage apple lovers and strawberry seekers alike. Walk down the gentle slope of the picking fields and let little hands choose berries still warm from the morning sun. Their farm shop bursts with raw honey and old-fashioned cordials. Stanhill Farm (Dartford, Kent)Just past the edge of the city, Stanhill offers a simple kind of magic. Book your strawberry slot, arrive early, and meander through soft earth with a basket on your arm. South West England Forde Abbey Fruit Farm (Chard, Somerset)In the shadow of the ancient abbey, this magical spot feels like a step back in time. After you’ve filled your basket, walk through wildflower meadows and find a shady tree for a picnic. It’s not just strawberry picking,  it’s stepping into an English fairytale. Ansty PYO & Farm Shop (Wiltshire) Hidden in the Wiltshire hills, Ansty is the kind of place that doesn’t shout. No crowds, just quiet fields full of fruit, sky and a charming tea room. The kind of place where you lose time, find peace, and leave with mud on your knees and joy in your basket. They sell local milk, honey and cheeses and on Thursdays and Saturdays they bake their own sourdough.  Midlands Scaddows Farm (Ticknall, Derbyshire)Set on a hilltop with sweeping views over green valleys, Scaddows is worth the trip for the scenery alone. But the strawberries, sun-drenched and headily sweet, are the stars. And of course, plenty of delights in their farm shop. Manor Farm Fruits (Tamworth, Staffordshire)Buzzing with energy and delight, Manor Farm is a celebration of the season. Ride the tractor out to the strawberry tunnels, then fill your hands, your basket, and likely your mouth.  North of England Claremont Farm (Wirral, Merseyside)Strawberry picking here comes with sea air and estuary views. As you wander the rows, you might catch the call of curlews or the scent of wild thyme. Their farm shop is a dream: cheeses still sweating from the cave, hand-churned butter, and eggs with straw still clinging to their shells. Spilman’s Farm (Thirsk, North Yorkshire)Where Yorkshire countryside meets joyful chaos. Spilman’s is made for families. But even in the buzz, there’s beauty, ripe fruit glinting in the sun and long rows humming with midsummer life. The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café (Gate Helmsley, York)With nearly 7km of strawberry rows, Balloon Tree is a northern jewel. Choose between varieties like Vibrant and Florence, then wander to the café for fresh scones and strawberry treats still warm from the oven. Kids can dash between ride-on tractors and the bakery window, where fruit-filled cakes rise like magic. Bentley Grange Farm (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)Set in idylic West Yorkshire countryside where the Moorhouse family have farmed since 1889. Different generations have adapted their skills to a wide range of agricultural activities including growing soft fruit which began in the late 70s. Now one of the only places in the area to offer pick your own fruit, it continues to provide a range of soft fruit grown to the highest standards. In the end, the strawberries are only part of the story. The real magic is the slowness. The smell of sun-warmed fruit. The joy of eating something you picked with your own hands. The laughter of sticky fingers and the quiet satisfaction of a day spent outside. Know a hidden gem we missed? If there’s a local strawberry field you love, we’d love to hear about it. Pop it in the comments and help someone else discover the magic in their own backyard. 

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5 hidden causes of women's hormone imbalance

May 01, 2025

5 hidden causes of women's hormone imbalance

Ever feel like your body’s whispering secrets you can’t quite decode? Painful, irregular periods. Early menopause. Fatigue that no amount of sleep can fix. Weight that won’t shift no matter how “clean” you eat. Trouble conceiving. They’re not inevitable parts of womanhood. They’re intelligent signals from a body craving restoration. Signs of hormonal imbalance that are often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or masked by conventional approaches, rather than truly understood. The good news is that our bodies have an innate tendency toward equilibrium when given the right support Let's explore five often overlooked causes of female hormone imbalance and how to address them: 1. Chronic nutrient deficiencies Did you know that all human sex hormones are derived from cholesterol?  And yet we are so often told to fear it. While your body makes about 80% of its cholesterol needs, the rest must come from diet, and that 20% is crucial for hormonal resilience, especially during stress, perimenopause, and postpartum. Ancestral diets were rich in cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins from eggs, liver, seafood, bone marrow, and raw dairy. Today, many of us are unknowingly starved of key nutrients: vitamin A (as retinol), D, K2, magnesium, B6, B12, zinc, iodine, and choline. These are the nutrients that regulate the menstrual cycle, power ovulation, support the thyroid, and buffer against estrogen dominance. Reintroduce traditional foods that nourish hormonal balance. Start with organ meats such as beef liver (rich in retinol, vitamin B12, and choline), pastured egg yolks daily, and slow-cooked bone broths rich in glycine and minerals. Load your plate with butter, sardines, shellfish, and full-fat dairy. Your endocrine system will thank you. 5. An overburdened liver Often underestimated, the liver plays a pivotal role in hormone metabolism, acting as the main processing center. Every hormone circulating in your body, including estrogen, relies on the liver to safely break it down. In today’s world, however, the liver is bombarded with alcohol, medications, synthetic chemicals (from pesticides to plastics), all of which can impair its function. A sluggish or overburdened liver might not efficiently metabolise hormones, leading to a buildup of estrogen or other byproducts in the body.  This can manifest as estrogen dominance symptoms: think heavy periods, clotting, fibrocystic breasts, stubborn weight gain (especially around hips/thighs), and mood swings. In women approaching menopause, it might worsen hot flashes or make the transition bumpier than it needs to be. Essentially, if estrogen isn’t being properly deactivated and excreted, it continues “recycling” in the body and keeping tissues stimulated. Additionally, gut dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria often caused by antibiotics, junk food, or chronic stress,  can lead to certain bacteria producing an enzyme (beta-glucuronidase) that re-activates estrogen in the colon, sending it back into circulation. Reduce the influx of toxins that burden your liver and mimic hormones. Simple swaps make a big difference over time: use glass or stainless steel instead of plastic for food storage and water bottles (to avoid BPA, phthalates), choose natural cleaning and beauty products, and even be mindful with cookware (cast iron or stainless steel pans instead of Teflon non-stick coatings which can release endocrine disruptors when heated). And if you do need medications or hormonal contraceptives, work with your healthcare provider to use the lowest effective dose and support your body with extra nutrients (like a high-quality B-complex vitamin, magnesium, and liver-supportive herbs) during use. Support your liver gently and daily. Use castor oil packs over the abdomen to increase circulation and lymphatic flow. Incorporate bitters (dandelion, chicory, rocket), sulphur-rich foods (onions, garlic, eggs), and vitamin-rich organ meats. Dry brushing, saunas, and Epsom salt baths help the lymphatic system move waste.  3. Disrupted circadian rhythm & EMFs In our high-tech lives, women are exposed not only to physical and dietary stressors but also to electromagnetic ones. Constant connectivity means we’re bathing in artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from Wi-Fi routers, cell phones, laptops, smart appliances, and more, an exposure level utterly foreign to our ancestors. Emerging research suggests that this 24/7 EMF exposure may subtly disrupt the body’s neuroendocrine system (the delicate dance between the nervous system and hormones). In essence, electromagnetic stress can trigger hormonal stress. In women, just like chronic emotional stress, this digital stress can contribute to irregular cycles, worsened anxiety around periods, and increased risk of estrogen-progesterone imbalance. It’s telling that functional medicine doctors sometimes refer to EMFs and artificial light as “invisible endocrine disruptors.” Treat EMF exposure as a form of pollution and minimize it where you can. Simple steps include turning off Wi-Fi routers at night, keeping cell phones away from your body (don’t carry your phone in a pocket directly against your body or sleep with it by your pillow), and using speakerphone or wired earbuds instead of holding the phone to your head. At home, unplug devices that emit constant EMFs when not in use. These small habits reduce the overall electromagnetic load on your body, giving your endocrine system a chance to operate in a calmer environment. Prioritise early morning sunlight and regularly practice grounding: walking barefoot on natural surfaces, which stabilises nervous system function and reduces stress-induced hormonal imbalances.   4. Seed oils Our ancestors cooked with tallow, lard, butter. Fats that are stable, nourishing, and easily used by the body. Today, we’ve swapped these for industrial oils: rapeseed, canola, sunflower, soybean, extracted through high heat, chemical solvents, and deodorisation. High in linoleic acid (an unstable omega-6 fat), seed oils integrate into your cell membranes and make them prone to oxidation. When that happens, hormone receptors on those cells become less responsive, and inflammation flares, disrupting everything from ovulation to insulin sensitivity to thyroid function. In fact, diets overloaded with omega-6 and deficient in anti-inflammatory omega-3s have even been linked to issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and even infertility.  Ditch the seed oils and return to the fats your grandmother used. Grass-fed butter, ghee, coconut oil, and beef tallow are metabolically stabilising. Pair with omega-3-rich foods like sardines and mackerel to rebalance your fatty acid ratios. Bonus? Orange juice can help neutralise the oxidative byproducts of linoleic acid.  5. Chronic fight or flight Physiologically, here’s what happens: under stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol and adrenaline. High cortisol over time steals “building blocks” (like pregnenolone) that would otherwise be used to produce progesterone, a phenomenon sometimes termed the “pregnenolone steal.” While the biochemistry is complex, the outcome is that a chronically stressed woman might have plenty of estrogen but not enough progesterone to balance it, leading to PMS, anxiety, breast tenderness, and heavy periods. Moreover, cortisol communicates with the brain’s hormone control centre (the hypothalamus and pituitary), which can suppress signals to the ovaries and thyroid. This is why women under intense stress may develop hypothyroidism symptoms or lose their period (amenorrhea) even if they are not underweight. From an ancestral view, it makes sense – the body perceives a “famine or danger,” so it prioritises survival over reproduction, altering hormonal output accordingly. Honour rest. Learn how to say no. Eat breakfast with protein and carbs within an hour of waking to stabilise cortisol. Before bed, try gelatin gummies made with honey, glycine and sea salt to support deep sleep and calm the adrenals. Bone broth, especially in the evening, helps soothe the nervous system and replenish depleted reserves. And for stored trauma? The hips hold it. Many women unconsciously store emotional tension in their pelvis. Try a hip-opening sequence paired with deep breathwork or somatic release. This is one of our favourites: Trauma-Informed Hip Opening Yoga for Emotional Release

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Ditch the 10-step skincare routine (our skin healing guide)

April 26, 2025

Ditch the 10-step skincare routine (our skin healing guide)

Modern skincare wants you to believe the answer is topical. That you can scrub, peel, or “glow-up” your skin from the outside, with the latest trending acids or actives no one can pronounce, while your body quietly runs low on the nutrients it actually needs to repair, regulate. Your skin is a mirror reflecting your internal world, your emotional landscape, your diet, your lymphatic flow, your resilience. And just like every vital system in your body, your skin wasn’t designed for modern life. It wasn’t designed for endocrine disrupting creams, synthetic sunscreens, constant inflammation, and the daily assault of environmental toxins. Yet healing it doesn’t require the latest £300 serum or another prescription cream that promises to erase the symptoms but ignores the roots. Skin starts within. In your gut, your minerals, your hormones, and your ability to build and maintain healthy tissue. So let’s begin, not from the surface down, but from the roots up. Acne What’s really happening Acne is often treated like an external problem, slathered with acids, stripped with retinoids, dried into submission. But acne is not born on the skin’s surface. It is the outward manifestation of internal inflammation, insulin dysregulation, gut imbalance, and congested detox pathways. Hormonal imbalance plays a major role, especially the excess production of androgens (like DHT), which overstimulate oil glands. When combined with blood sugar instability,  the rollercoaster driven by refined carbohydrates and seed oils, acne blooms. Gut dysfunction, especially dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), floods the bloodstream with inflammatory endotoxins that burden the skin. A sluggish liver, struggling to process modern dietary stressors, can no longer efficiently clear excess hormones, toxins, or metabolic waste, forcing the skin to act as a secondary detox channel. One of the most overlooked root causes of acne lies hidden in the rivers beneath the skin: stagnant lymph. Your lymphatic system is responsible for clearing cellular debris, metabolic waste, and pathogens. Unlike blood, lymph has no pump,  it relies on movement, hydration, and muscle contraction to flow. When lymph becomes sluggish, waste backs up into tissues, including the delicate sebaceous structures of the skin. Toxins accumulate, immune surveillance falters, and acne becomes inevitable. Our guidemap Try a raw carrot salad daily: to bind endotoxins and help with hormone clearance (especially estrogen that drives hormonal acne). Prioritise bioavailable protein and fat at every meal: pasture-raised beef, lamb, bison, raw dairy, eggs. Add liver weekly: (the highest natural source of retinol, choline, and B vitamins, crucial for skin renewal). Heal the gut: Emphasise bone broth, fermented foods, gelatine, slow-cooked meats. Nourish the liver: For example, drink herbal infusions of dandelion or nettle. Eat bitter greens, beets, and generous amounts of choline-rich foods like egg yolks and liver. Support lymphatic flow: Daily walks, dry brushing, lymph massage, rebounding (mini trampoline!), and  hydrating deeply with mineral-rich water. Breaking a sweat with exercise or sauna a few times a week is another ancestral way to flush waste and nourish skin from within. Eczema What’s really happening  Eczema is often misunderstood as simply “dry skin” that needs to be moisturised. But at its root, eczema is a message from the immune system, a call from within asking for balance and protection. It is deeply tied to gut health: when the intestinal lining becomes compromised through processed foods, antibiotics, or chronic stress, foreign particles leak into the bloodstream, provoking immune responses that often manifest through the skin. Our guidemap Flood the body with gelatine and collagen daily (slow-cooked stews, oxtail soup, bone broth). GAPS diet may be useful if eczema is severe. Consume whole food vitamin A from beef liver,  the master regulator of epithelial (skin) integrity. Introduce raw milk: its living enzymes, probiotics, and fat-soluble vitamins nourish the gut lining. Colostrum with its immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, growth factors, and healing compounds, acts like a balm for an overreactive immune system Identify triggers: Eliminate common offenders like gluten, conventional dairy, industrial seed oils, and excessive oxalates (raw spinach, almonds). Restore the skin barrier: Rich animal fats like tallow and provide the same fatty acids your skin craves for healing. Nourish anti-inflammatory pathways: Prioritise omega-3s (such as wild-caught fish) and antioxidant-rich foods like berries, cacao, and organ meats. Soothe your skin microbiome: Avoid antibacterial soaps and instead use something natural like aleppo soap (simply extra virgin olive oil and laurel oil as its 2 ingredients). Applying tallow balm (rendered beef fat) or coconut oil deeply moisturise and nourish eczema patches, as they are compatible with our skin’s natural oils and contain anti-microbial properties. Herbal salves with calendula or chamomile can further reduce inflammation. Premature wrinkles What’s really happening  Premature wrinkles are not just a matter of age, they are gentle signals from the body, asking for deeper nourishment. Over time, oxidative stress, slowed collagen renewal, and subtle inflammation quietly wear down the skin’s natural elasticity. Modern diets, heavy in processed foods and industrial seed oils, and light on collagen-rich, ancestral food,  have disrupted the skin’s innate architecture. When unstable omega-6 fats from seed oils integrate into your cell membranes, they leave the skin more fragile, more vulnerable to everyday stressors. But the beauty of the human body is its capacity to repair, renew and reverse premature ageing. Our guidemap Traditional diets provided abundant natural collagen and gelatine, which modern diets lack. To support smooth, firm skin, consume bone broth, gelatine, and collagen-rich cuts (like slow-cooked meats with connective tissue). These provide proline and glycine, amino acids that your body uses to produce collagen and keep skin plump. Beef heart and liver 2x/week, loaded with CoQ10, copper, and vitamin A (build collagen cross-links). Eat pasture-raised butter, tallow, bone marrow to nourish resilient skin cell membranes. Support thyroid health with oysters, iodine-rich seafood, raw milk, and natural sodium (sea salt). Prioritise sun rituals: morning light first, avoid sunscreen chemicals. Ground on earth daily to discharge free radical build-up. Practice nose breathing and fascia release to oxygenate tissue and improve circulation. Use cast iron or glass for cooking avoid toxic metals leaching into food. Oiliness What’s really happening Oily skin is not a flaw to be punished. It is a sign that the skin is trying desperately to protect itself, often because it feels stripped, undernourished, or threatened. Harsh cleansers, foaming soaps, alcohol-based toners, they all assault the skin’s natural sebum barrier, forcing the glands to overcompensate in self-defence. Internally, unstable blood sugar, hormone imbalances, and dehydration amplify the problem, sending signals that the skin must shield itself further. Our guidemap Regulate with the right nutrients: A nutrient dense diet helps modulate sebum production. Vitamin B5 helps your body metabolise fats better whereas zinc helps control the skin’s oil output. Organ meats are deeply abundant in both. Avoid over stripping: Interestingly, “like dissolves like.” Instead of modern harsh foaming cleansers (often full of sulphates that strip natural oils and trigger rebound oil production), try the oil cleansing method or washing with raw honey. It sounds counterintuitive to put oil on oily skin, but gentle oils (like jojoba or rosehip) dissolve excess sebum and impurities without triggering your skin to panic-produce more oil. Honey, used by many traditional cultures, is a natural cleanser that also acts as an antiseptic and humectant, cleansing without over-drying. After cleansing, you can use a splash of diluted apple cider vinegar or witch hazel as a toner,  these are old-fashioned remedies to restore pH balance. Hydration and mineral balance: Hydration must come from within, not just misted onto the surface. Drink mineral-rich water (ideally spring water), and replenish electrolytes naturally by adding sea salt, or drinking fruit juices and broths.  Nervous system support: High stress can lead to adrenal fatigue or spikes of androgen hormones, both of which can increase oily skin. Incorporate calming rituals like deep belly breathing (which also pumps the lymphatic thoracic duct), yoga, or walking in the woods. Grounding in nature and getting sunlight early in the day may help regulate your circadian rhythm and, by extension, your hormone levels. Balanced hormones = balanced oils. Uneven skin tone & discolouration What’s really happening Similarlty to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven tone are often blamed solely on sun exposure, but the truth is more nuanced, they are signs of oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and, critically, the cumulative impact of seed oils. When you consume unstable polyunsaturated fats from industrial oils like canola, soy, and sunflower, these fragile fats integrate into your cell membranes, including those of your skin cells. When exposed to ultraviolet light, they oxidise rapidly, leading to inflammation, DNA damage, and hyperpigmentation. This is why two people can have the same sun exposure but vastly different pigmentation outcomes: internal resilience matters. Our guidemap Eliminate seed oils entirely: Replace them with stable, ancestral fats: butter, ghee, tallow, coconut oil,  that resist oxidative damage. Saturate your body with antioxidants: from whole, vibrant foods: vitamin C, A, E, and glutathione precursors found in organ meats, wild berries, and richly coloured fruits and vegetables. Hormonal balance is equally vital: foods that support liver detoxification and bile flow,  like dandelion, beetroot, and bitter greens, help clear excess estrogen, a driver of melasma and pigmentation issues.  Boost circulation for an even glow: Dark or dull patches can sometimes be improved by simply increasing blood flow to the skin, delivering nutrients and carrying away waste. Regular exercise is fundamental,  it gets your blood pumping and imparts a full-body glow Pay attention to lymphatic drainage in areas of discolouration. Clogged lymph can contribute to a dull, uneven look. A few minutes of massage along your neck, jawline, and clavicle area can ensure that lymph (which carries away cellular waste) keeps moving.  Fruit enzymes for natural exfoliation: tropical fruits like papaya and pineapple contain enzymes (papain and bromelain) that can delicately dissolve dead skin without harsh acids. A simple mask of mashed papaya once a week can brighten dark spots over time. Remember not to over-exfoliate.A weekly routine, coupled with all the internal nourishment above, will reveal a more even complexion in a sustainable way. Topical steroid withdrawal What’s really happening Those navigating topical steroid withdrawal know it is not a cosmetic journey. Years of suppressing inflammation with corticosteroids strip the skin’s natural immune intelligence, leaving it frail and reactive. When steroids are removed, the skin, desperate to recalibrate, unleashes stored inflammation in waves of redness, peeling, oozing, and pain.  Long term steroid use depletes cortisol reserves, destabilises the nervous system, weakens the gut lining, and burdens the liver. Healing demands a full system rebuild. Our guidemap Rebuild with nutrient density: After steroid overuse, your skin is depleted and your immune system destabilised.  Now is the time to flood your body with the most concentrated nourishment available: slow-simmered bone broths, gelatinous stews, grass-fed fats, wild-caught seafood, organ meats, raw dairy. These foods provide the building blocks: collagen, retinol, zinc, glycine, cholesterol , to reconstruct the skin's barrier, soothe inflammation, and rebuild systemic resilience from the inside out. Support the adrenals: Steroid creams supply artificial cortisol to the skin, which can make your adrenal glands lazy. When you stop steroids, your body might struggle to produce cortisol in balance, leading to rampant inflammation. Nourish your adrenals with mineral-rich broths, shellfish, seaweed, raw honey, and ripe fruit.  Keep reminding yourself that your body has an innate wisdom to heal:  Feed it well, tend to it kindly, and give it time. Rituals like morning sunlight exposure, gentle walks, salt baths, and deep diaphragmatic breathing help regulate cortisol naturally, reminding your body it is safe to heal. Honour the slow timeline: tSW healing is not linear, but your body is working tirelessly to heal you. Trust it. When you nourish yourself the way nature intended, with living, ancestral foods, with light, with movement, with peace, your skin responds not with grudging improvement, but with radiant gratitude.  It becomes clear, resilient, luminous, not because you forced it to behave, but because you finally gave it everything it had been asking for all along. Did we miss a skin concern you're curious about? Pop us a comment below and we will get that resource in your hands. 

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Our 5 favourite ancient beauty rituals from across the world

April 24, 2025

Our 5 favourite ancient beauty rituals from across the world

In a world where beauty now arrives in synthetic formulas and seven syllable ingredient lists that only deplete your body further, we like to remind ourselves of something simple. Beauty isn’t applied, it’s nourished. Nurtured. Shared, generation to generation.Every culture holds its own time tested beauty secrets, and we’ve gathered a few of our favourites (as well as how to recreate them at home): 1. The Russian banya You step into the wooden bathhouse, skin already tingling from the cold. The air is thick with steam and the scent of birch. Branches are whipped against your skin. This is the banya.And in Slavic culture, it’s a rite of passage. Not just for warming bones in the dead of winter, but for awakening circulation, flushing the skin with fresh blood, and moving stagnant lymph. While we’ve now rebranded parts of it as “detoxification” or “lymphatic drainage, the banya is a ritual older than most empires, a weekly wellness practice where entire families would come to get well and fortify their bodies against unbearable cold. Three generations of one family would gather sit shoulder to shoulder, coming together to sweat, scrub, detox and connect.  The ritual is elemental: fire, water, wood, steam. Heat rises above 90°C, causing deep sweating and stimulating heat shock proteins, which help the body repair damaged cells. Then come the venik, a bundle of soaked birch or oak twigs, used to rhythmically whip the body, boosting  microcirculation, releasing essential oils from the leaves (like salicylic acid in birch), and gently exfoliating the skin. Think of it as the original lymphatic drainage + essential oil therapy + body scrub, all in one. You emerge flushed, decongested, and completely wrung out, in the best possible way. Pair a hot shower or infrared sauna with dry brushing, followed by a cold rinse and herbal body oil. Birch-infused oils bring that forest-ritual feeling home. Or find a local banya, they still exist, and they’re sensational. 2. Chinese chicken feet soup Don’t let their slightly creepy appearance prevent you from getting the smoothest skin of your life. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, food is your first pharmacy. And chicken feet, overflowing with structural nutrients, have long been used as a tonic for blood, joints, and skin. High in type II collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, chicken feet provide the structural proteins your skin uses to remain firm, hydrated, and plump, collagen in a forms with itd natural cofactors intact: trace minerals, chondroitin sulphate, and glycine,  a calming amino acid that supports gut health and sleep. Slow simmering the feet for 12+ hours yields a thick, gelatinous broth. The result is a food that supports skin elasticity, hydration, and repair from within, not to mention a deeply nourished digestive system, which is where real radiance begins. Not sure where to get these? Don’t worry, they’re easier to find than you’d think. Try your local Chinese, Korean, or Southeast Asian grocer. Some traditional butchers will stock them too, or you can befriend them and ask them to save them especially for you.  Bonus: they’re one of the most sustainable cuts you can buy,  no waste, full nourishment. 3. Cleopatra’s raw milk mask While we romanticise Cleopatra’s milk baths, what made them powerful wasn’t the glamour, it was the biochemistry. Raw, unpasteurised, and often slightly fermented milk is a skin elixir, rich in lactic acid: a natural alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates, brightens, and boosts cell turnover without stripping the skin.  It also contains bioavailable vitamin A (in the form of retinoic acid), which supports wound healing, collagen synthesis, and pigmentation balance. Probiotic bacteria in raw milk nourish the skin’s microbiome, reducing inflammation and helping to prevent acne and eczema flares, while its natural conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and saturated fats restore the skin’s lipid barrier, essential for deep hydration and resilience.  And long before Egyptian queens made it famous, women across North Africa and the Mediterranean were using raw cream, kefir, and colostrum on their skin for softness, brightness, and healing. It was a ritual of alchemy, food becoming medicine, medicine becoming beauty. You can mimic the glow with raw milk compresses, yoghurt face masks, or even colostrum dabs on inflamed or dry areas. No irritation, no chemical peels,  just nature’s version of a facial, full of microbes and magic. 4. The Aegean art of rest Yes, we’re calling sleep an ancestral beauty ritual. The Mediterranean (especially Greek) approach to beauty wasn’t just olive oil and herbs. It was rest. Deep, unapologetic, sunshine aligned rest. Afternoon siestas. Leisurely evenings. Full nights of sleep, guided by natural light and the body's rhythm, not blue light and to-do lists. And modern science is catching up. Skin repairs itself at night. Collagen is synthesised. Cortisol drops. Melatonin (an antioxidant in its own right) rises. Deep sleep is when the real regeneration happens. But this isn't about squeezing more sleep into a packed schedule. It's about reclaiming rest as a form of beauty. Lying in the sun. Closing your eyes after lunch. Dimming lights at dusk. Saying no to more, and yes to stillness. 5. Bone marrow hair oil Before conditioners came in plastic bottles, our ancestors massaged oils and animal fats into their scalps,  nourishing not just the hair, but the entire nervous system through the ritual of touch. In Eastern European and African traditions, warm bone marrow, infused with herbs or used plain, was rubbed into the scalp to promote growth, strengthen roots, and prevent breakage. Marrow is rich in lipids, stem cell activating compounds, vitamin K2, and fatty acids that penetrate deeply and stay there. In Ayurveda, the head is considered a sacred energy point,  and oiling it is an act of care that goes beyond vanity. It calms the nervous system, cools inflammation, and grounds the body. Gently render marrow from grass-fed bones and infuse with rosemary, nettle, or amla. Massage into your scalp, wrap with a warm towel, and leave overnight before rinsing.   Across the world, ancestral cultures have long understood beauty not as something applied, but cultivated. It’s in the warmth of your skin after a good meal, the sparkle in your eyes after deep sleep, the flush in your cheeks after cold water and a walk. It lived in broth pots and bathhouses. In moonlit rest and mid afternoon naps. In fermented milk, quiet touch, and moments of stillness. It emerges when the body is nourished, the skin is supported, and the nervous system finally feels safe enough to exhale.

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We found your local farm to visit this Easter (expect lamb cuddles)

April 19, 2025

We found your local farm to visit this Easter (expect lamb cuddles)

Stuck for Easter plans? Or maybe you just want an excuse to pack up the kids, get the wellies on, and spend a wholesome day on the farm? We’ve got you. 
 The lambs are wobbling through meadows on their brand new legs, and you might even get the chance to bottle feed one yourself. We’ve scouted the most magical family friendly farms across the UK, where your little ones can run free and bottle feed newborns...wholesome chaos, incoming. And as a treat for you, hopefully go home with a delicious selection of farm goods.  Depending on the farm, your Easter weekend could look like... Bottle-feeding lambs: Cradling a warm wooly body has got to be as memorable for adults and children alike Egg hunts with real hens nearby: Not just plastic shells in a manicured park, but the thrill of discovery in real grass, with the cluck of actual chickens overhead. Goat mischief: Goats will tug and chew at your jumper strings, and you may not even mind. They’re cheeky, chaotic, and oddly therapeutic. Tractor rides and hay bale climbs: Movement. Outdoors. Full body joy. Fresh farm produce: Think farmhouse bakes, raw milk and the first of the spring produce Before you go... Dress for the elements: Wellies, waterproofs, and clothes you don’t mind getting muddy. Leave room in the car: Chances are you’ll go home with fresh eggs, raw milk, raw honey, or a local cheese you didn’t know you needed. Go early: Mornings are quieter and lambs are usually fed before midday. Can’t find a local farm? Don’t worry, many of the best ones are tucked away off the beaten path (think: fewer queues, more time with a lamb in your lap). Our Organised app has mapped all the regeneratively raised, family friendly farms across the UK, so you’re sure to find one nearby. And don’t be shy about calling ahead… most farmers will happily welcome you down for a visit, and perhaps share some raw milk. Now for the farms... South East England Willows Activity Farm (St Albans, Hertfordshire) Step into a picture book version of spring. From a sprawling Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Grotto to hands on crafts, this farm pulls out all the stops. Don’t miss the chance to bottle feed a lamb, it’s the gentle heart of a big, joyful day.  Marsh Farm (South Woodham Ferrers, Essex) A long time family favourite, and definitely on the busier side, Marsh Farm comes alive at Easter with egg hunts, funfair rides, character meet and greets, and animal cuddles galore. Hook & Son (Hailsham, East Sussex) Already got plans for Easter Sunday? No worries, Hook & Son are keeping the magic going with their Turn Out Day on Bank Holiday Monday, 21st April. It’s the day their cows are let loose onto the pasture after a long winter indoors, and it’s as joyful as it sounds. Expect a farmer's market with raw milk (and raw ice cream!), BBQ, a calf pen for the littlest animal lovers, and, of course, a herd of very, very happy galloping cows. South West England Pennywell Farm (Buckfastleigh, Devon) This award winning farm is small in scale but huge on heart. Famous for its miniature pigs, Pennywell’s Easter experience includes bottle-feeding lambs, pony pampering, egg trails, and tractor ride, with gentle shows and a friendly pace perfect for younger children. Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park (Poole, Dorset) Tailored for toddlers and little explorers, this cheerful farm park is Easter magic made miniature. Expect golden ticket egg hunts that spark wide eyed wonder, surprise appearances from a very hoppy visitor, and plenty of hands-on animal moments: from fluffy chicks to friendly goats. Midlands  National Forest Adventure Farm (Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire) Hop on the Easter Eggspress and explore acres of play zones, adventure trails, and lamb feeding stations. This farm blends excitement with tradition, ideal for families who want a high-energy day filled with giggles, chocolate, and animals. Cotswold Farm Park ( Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) Owned by farming celeb Adam Henson, this park is a haven for animal lovers. “Lambing Live” steals the show, but the Easter bonnet station, spring-themed trail, and nature walks make it a beautifully rounded experience in the rolling hills. Tatton Park ( Knutsford, Cheshire) Easter here feels like a storybook come to life. Follow the egg trail through blossoming gardens to the farmyard, where newborn animals, hands-on crafts, and seasonal treats await. And as treat for high-quality, local food lovers (all of us in this community), you will also find a market with artisan food producers, local artwork, and beautiful homeware. North of England Whitehouse Farm Centre (Morpeth, Northumberland) Sprawling and interactive, Whitehouse is a wonderland for curious, energetic little ones with a serious soft spot for animals, especially as beyond bottle feeding lambs, you will also get to groom goats, encounter critters, and even feed the meerkats (yes, really). And if you’ve got a mini zoologist on your hands, they’ll love the Bird of Prey meet and greet. Monk Park Farm (Thirsk, North Yorkshire) Known for its hands-on approach, this farm lets you feed the lambs (and maybe even help birth some), brush the goats, groom the bunnies and Highland cows, and wander through a traditional Yorkshire egg hunt.  Playdale Farm Park (Scarborough, North Yorkshire) Here, the hunt is for emu eggs. And even more excitingly...their ewes are due to give birth on Good Friday so they will have plenty of new born lambs to meet. There’s also indoor play if the weather turns sour and outdoor climbing and tractor rides for when it doesn’t. You won’t remember the exact Easter egg your child found in five years’ time. But you will remember the look on their face when a tiny lamb pressed its warm head into their arms. You’ll remember the smell of straw, the squeal when a chicken flapped too close, and the way they fell asleep, muddy and happy, on the drive home.

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5 steps to healthier flying (a survival guide for the sky)

April 16, 2025

5 steps to healthier flying (a survival guide for the sky)

Travelling by air might be one of the least ancestral things we do. Hurtling through the sky at 35,000 feet in a pressurised metal tube flooded with blue light, EMFs, artificial air, and processed food, isn’t exactly what our biology evolved for.And yet, at Organised we are huge proponents of adventure. Here’s our 6 steps to care for your body before, during, and after a flight: 1. Fuel properly before takeoff Airline meals are the opposite of nourishing, ultra-processed, seed-oil heavy, and laced with preservatives that have to survive radiation and dry pressurised air. Did you know food served on planes has to contain more preservatives than regular processed food on the ground to prevent spoilage at high altitudes?  And airport snacks aren't much better. Eat 1-2 hours before flying. Focus on:  Slow cooked meats or eggs (for B vitamins, iron, protein) Root veg, rice or squash (gentle carbs to ground and fuel you) Ancestral fats like tallow, ghee, or butter (for your nervous system) A side of broth or fruit juice with sea salt (for minerals & hydration) As for airport snacks: Grass fed jerky  Chocolate Ghee Stuffed Dates Dried fruit (for example mango or a few prunes if you struggle with digestion while travelling) Cottage Cheese Truffles Crunchy Colostrum Bark Hard boiled eggs & sea salt Fruit and veg to snack on Animal Based Gummies 2. Prevent lymph stagnancy Long periods of sitting slow venous return, lymphatic flow, and gut motility. The result? Swelling, constipation, brain fog, and that puffy face post-landing. Your mission is to simulate movement without much space. And we've made you a little travel mobility routine to help: Mini mobility routine (every hour), best done in the little patch of space outside plane bathroom: Spinal rolls to rehydrate spinal disks (standing or seated): Slowly roll down from the crown of your head, vertebra by vertebra, until your hands dangle by your toes.  Seated twists to stimulate digestion and reset midline posture: Inhale, lengthen the spine. Exhale, twist to the right, hold for 3–5 breaths. Switch sides. Shoulder shrugs and rolls to release stored tension in the trapezius Hip circles to wake up PSOAS: Stand with feet hip-width apart, soft knees. Circle your hips slowly in both directions. Leg extensions to improve circulation to lower limbs: Extend one leg at a time, flex and point the foot for 30 seconds each. Neck rolls & jaw release: Roll the neck in figure-8s. Open and gently stretch the jaw.  3. Hydrate smarter You can lose up to 2 litres of water on a 10-hour flight, just through respiration and dry cabin air. But plain water? Won’t cut it. You need hydration with cofactors, minerals that help water move into your cells, not just pass through. Hydration stack: Water with a pinch of unrefined sea salt A squeeze of lemon or splash of apple cider vinegar to support absorption Herbal teas > coffee or wine (caffeine & alcohol further dehydrate you) Optional: magnesium drops (if prone to muscle tension or anxiety)   4. Protect your circadian rhythm  Most of what makes flying feel so brutal surprisingly isn't even being stuck with a crooked neck in the middle seat. It's circadian disruption: your internal clock being yanked out of rhythm: light at the wrong time, food at the wrong time, cortisol at the wrong time. Your circadian rhythm governs over 80% of physiological processes, including hormone production, digestion, immune responses, and energy cycles so no wonder flying through time zones disrupts every other aspect of your health. But don't worry, there are ways to re-anchor it and mitigate some of the jet lag. Expose your eyes (no sunglasses) to natural light within 30 minutes of landing. Even on a cloudy day, the lux from outdoor light is orders of magnitude stronger than indoor light and powerfully resets your suprachiasmatic nucleus,  the brain’s central clock. But darkness matters just as much... if you can get a pair, use blue-light blocking glasses 1-2 hours before sleep (or even for duration of airport), or alternatively bring an eye mask to block out EMF heavy cabin light. Time your meals with your destination: Eating at local daylight hours helps your peripheral clocks (in the liver, pancreas, gut) sync with your central rhythm. Avoid snacking through the night just because you're bored or jet lagged (it can delay circadian recovery by 2-3 days) If possible, eating glycine rich foods such as bone broth or Organised with some milk at your arrival destination promotes a parasympathetic tone, helping you slide back into sleep when your brain still thinks it's noon. 5. Decompress after you land Just because you’ve arrived doesn’t mean your nervous system has. Post flight inflammation, circadian disruption, and sensory overload can take 24-48 hours to regulate. Think of this as your post-flight landing protocol: Grounding: Get barefoot on grass, sand, or soil for at least 10–15 minutes. This helps neutralise static electric charge, supports vagal tone, and lowers cortisol. Magnesium & bicarbonate soak:  This combo supports detoxification, relieves muscular tension, and helps re-mineralise after altitude dehydration. Add 2 cups epsom salts, 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda and a few drops of lavender. Flush lymph + oxygenateYour lymph system doesn't have a pump, it relies on movement. And flying slows it to a crawl. Try a brisk walk, or legs up on the wall pose to drain stagnation from the lower limbs. Gently stretch the hips, spine and traps (they bear the brunt of long-haul tension) Bonus rituals for nervous system recovery: Rub magnesium oil into the back of your neck (vagus-rich zone) and the soles of your feet before bed. It relaxes your system via the skin and bypasses digestion. Use castor oil on your abdomen with a hot water bottle: supports detox pathways and calms the gut-brain axis. Sip a tea of lemon balm & passionflower:  gentle nervines that help coax the body into repair mode.

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The ultimate guide to stress release

April 11, 2025

The ultimate guide to stress release

Let’s start here: Stress isn’t the villain. It’s a biological response designed to protect you. A surge of alertness. A burst of energy. A system scan for threats. The issue isn’t stress itself, it’s the constancy of it. The background noise of inboxes, deadlines, processed food, blue light, and unresolved trauma. You may have seen the trend of 'unfortunately my body can't tell the difference between being chased by a predator, and ... ', but it really is true. Our amygdala, the brain’s threat centre, truly doesn’t discern between emotional, physical, or perceived danger. And if you never send it the all clear, the body stays braced for impact. We weren’t meant to live in permanent fight-or-flight, and the modern diseases that manifest are a show of it. We were meant to pulse in and out of it. Hunt, gather, rest. Work, restore. Expand, exhale. Modern life forgot the exhale. But you can bring it back. Not through numbing or bypassing, but through gently nourishing the systems that carry you, so they can return to calm naturally. Here’s our guide how: Feeding your calm In the body, stress eats first. Before we can relax, our cells need to feel safe, and safety is built on micronutrients. In ancestral cultures, calming the nervous system didn’t come from a bottle but from the slow ritual of eating food that signalled abundance: organ meats, broths, yolks, wild greens, and mineral-rich waters. Today, we can trace that same nourishment back to a handful of key nutrients that quietly regulate the brain, support hormone balance, and buffer the adrenal glands during times of strain. Choline-rich foods (like liver and egg yolks) feed acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter of rest and digest. Saturated fats and cholesterol build the myelin sheaths around nerves, allowing thoughts and signals to flow calmly and clearly. Glycine, found in bones, skin, and connective tissue is the nervous system’s whisper, slowing heart rate and body tension. And B vitamins are the unsung conductors of neurotransmitter balance and energy production, worn thin by constant stress. In short: to support your nerves, you must feed them. Not with stimulants or synthetic quick-fixes, but with real, bioavailable food. Understanding the biology of stress To understand stress, we need to visit the brain. More specifically, the HPA axis, a hormonal chain reaction between your hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. In survival mode, this axis is your lifeline. The moment your brain senses danger, it floods the body with adrenaline and cortisol, mobilising glucose and sharpening your senses. This is brilliant, for escaping a lion. But in modern life, the lions are emails, debt letters, and scrolling at midnight. Our bodies respond the same way. We end up with a constantly revving stress engine and repeated HPA axis activation. Over time, this takes a serious toll. Research shows that chronic stress (ongoing high cortisol) contributes to high blood pressure, artery-clogging plaques, brain changes, and increased anxiety, depression, and addiction risk. It can dysregulate the immune system and metabolism as well. In fact, persistent cortisol elevation literally reshapes parts of the brain, for example, it can cause the hippocampus (critical for memory and mood regulation) to atrophy and weaken synaptic connections. To restore balance, the key is to create a state of safety, not just emotionally, but biologically. That’s where light, warmth, breath, and grounding come in. Light as medicine Notice how you feel in a firelit restaurant. The glow is warm, flickering, golden. Your shoulders drop. Conversation softens. Something ancient in you exhales. Now think of a fluorescent-lit office or a kitchen at midnight with every overhead light blazing,  there’s tension, an invisible buzzing in the background, and a restlessness that’s hard to shake. That’s not in your head. That’s your nervous system responding to light. Light is one of the most powerful environmental signals your body receives, and it speaks directly to your HPA axis and your circadian rhythm, the internal 24-hour clock that regulates everything from cortisol to digestion to melatonin. In ancestral life, light came in two forms: the bright, full-spectrum light of the sun by day, and the gentle, amber flicker of fire by night. This natural contrast told the brain when to be alert and when to unwind. Today, many of us live in the reverse: dim artificial light indoors all day, followed by intense blue-toned screens at night. The result? Cortisol rises when it should fall. Melatonin is suppressed. Sleep becomes shallow, moods grow brittle, and our stress resilience unravels. The recalibration begins with rhythm. Step outside within 30 minutes of waking. Even five to ten minutes of morning sunlight acts like a master reset for your entire circadian system. You’ll feel it: sharper focus, more stable energy, and a calmer descent into sleep that night. Neuroscientists now confirm what our ancestors knew intuitively, the sun is medicine. In the evenings, flip the script. Dim the lights, switch to warm bulbs, light a candle at the dinner table. Your nervous system understands this language. It says: the day is done. You are safe now. Wind down. Consistency matters too. Wake and sleep at roughly the same times each day, even on weekends. Sleep in a cool, dark room, and stop eating at least a few hours before bed. These subtle cues, light, dark, temperature, food timing,  are known as zeitgebers, or “time-givers,” and they help your body land in the right gear at the right time. Activating the parasympathetic  The most stressful things always catch you blind sighted on a random Thursday afternoon. And it would be naive to assume you can stop stress from arriving, but you can train the body to recover quicker. To move through instead of freeze. The parasympathetic state is your body’s healing gear. It’s the mode where digestion resumes, hormones regulate, tissue repairs, and the mind feels safe enough to exhale. But in a world that keeps us alert and overstimulated, most of us forget how to access it. Luckily, your body holds ancient levers: A warm bath before bed: especially with magnesium-rich salts, dilates blood vessels, calms muscles, and drops cortisol. The warmth mimics the sun’s descent and invites your system to let go. Grounding with bare feet on soil: a daily barefoot walk, or sitting under a tree with your palms in the grass, helps discharge static stress and recalibrates your nervous system through the earth’s subtle electric field. Slow, nasal breathing: especially when the exhale is longer than the inhale. Try 4-7-8 breathing or a soft sigh with closed lips. It signals to your vagus nerve that you are no longer under threat. Touch: a lingering hug, stroking a pet, or even self-massage with warm oil can activate oxytocin and reduce cortisol. This is primal. We are social mammals. Safety is often felt through skin. Somatic release Stress lives not only in your head, but in your posture, jaw, gut, and pelvic floor. Muscular tension is your body’s way of holding on. If you’re always bracing, shoulders hunched, teeth clenched, belly tight, your body is sending a message of threat, even if you feel "fine." Somatic practices (body-based) help you listen in. Notice how animals shake after a threat. A built-in release valve to stop stress from embedding in the body. We need that too. Daily body scans are an incredible starting point: where are you gripping? Can you soften your jaw, belly, or shoulders? Tension often hides where we least expect it. Let yourself shake it out, whether through TRE (trauma release exercises) or simply dancing in your kitchen. Stretch deeply and pair it with a long, audible sigh: your vagus nerve registers that exhale as a signal of safety. Even your posture is a tool: standing tall, chest open, shoulders soft not only reflects confidence but gently shifts your inner chemistry. These are micro-practices, yes, but practiced daily, they become your body’s reminder that the danger has passed. Trauma & polyvagal theory Some stress is chronic. Some is stored.Not all nervous systems reset on their own. Unprocessed trauma doesn’t just live in memory, it gets etched into posture, breath, immune function, digestion, and mood. It becomes a pattern. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, describes trauma not as a past event, but as a present-day imprint on the body and nervous system. When we can’t process a threat in real time,  when we fight or flee internally but the moment freezes, that survival energy gets stuck. It’s why trauma symptoms can linger for years, even decades: because the body remembers. Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, gives us a physiological roadmap. It shows that the nervous system operates more like a ladder than a switch, with three key states: Ventral vagal: safe, social, open. This is where healing happens. Sympathetic: fight-or-flight. Alert, mobilised, anxious. Dorsal vagal: freeze. Numb, disconnected, collapsed. In trauma, we lose access to the ventral vagal state because the body doesn’t yet feel safe enough to return there.  Titration: A core concept in somatic experiencing (pioneered by Peter Levine), titration means feeling small pieces of a sensation or memory, then backing off. Little doses of intensity that build your capacity to stay present, without flooding. Sound, vibration, rhythm: Humming, chanting, drumming, and singing all activate the vagus nerve. These aren’t new biohacks, they’re ancient healing tools. Communal song, lullabies, mourning chants, humans have always used rhythm to metabolise emotion. Somatic release: Bessel van der Kolk writes, “the single most important issue for traumatised people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies.” Relational repair: We are social mammals. Trauma often happens in the context of relationship, and healing often happens through relationship. This is co-regulation: the presence of a calm, attuned other who helps your system downshift. Whether it’s a therapist, a friend, or even a pet, safe connection is medicine.

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5 red flags to look out for in supplements

April 09, 2025

5 red flags to look out for in supplements

The cupboard’s full of capsules. You’ve got magnesium for sleep, ashwagandha for stress, greens for gut health, collagen for skin… and still? You feel kind of meh. Or even worse, your symptoms continue to torment you, while your gut suffers the consequences. Most modern supplements are ultra-processed imposters wearing wellness labels.They’re sold as solutions, but often act more like stressors: confusing your biology, overriding your taste buds and quietly eroding your gut terrain. Let’s break it down. Here are 5 signs your “health” supplement is working against you, and what to do instead: 1.  It contains 'natural flavours' 'Natural flavours' sound innocent, even healthy. But in reality, this is one of the most misleading terms in the industry.  Legally, a natural flavour only has to originate from something found in nature. These so called natural flavourings are often cooked up and processed in labs using solvents, synthetic carriers, and emulsifiers, all hidden behind a single word on the label. That vanilla-flavoured collagen or blueberry multivitamin? It might contain propylene glycol, MSG derivatives, butylene glycol, or ethyl alcohols, none of which your gut wants, or your liver loves. They’re endocrine disruptors. They’re gut irritants. And worst of all, they’re not required to be disclosed (in fact 'natural flavours' can contain up to 100 undisclosed chemcial compounds). 2. It's synthetic, not whole foods Many supplements today are made with isolated synthetic vitamins,  like ascorbic acid (synthetic vitamin C) or pyridoxine hydrochloride (synthetic B6). These lab-created isolates are often poorly absorbed, missing the cofactors and enzymes that real foods provide. What’s missing? The wisdom of nature: the synergy of nutrients that are designed to work together. For example, B vitamins from beef liver aren’t just “B vitamins.” They come with iron, copper, CoQ10, and choline. They’re deeply recognisable to your cells. Synthetic B6? It’s a lone actor. And in excess, it can accumulate in tissues and throw things off even more. You deserve nourishment your body knows what to do with, not something it has to decode. 3. It's sweetened with stevia, erythritol or monk fruit Most sugar substitutes, especially the highly refined, zero-calorie kind, confuse your body. They: Disrupt the microbiome Trigger insulin spikes (despite no calories) Alter taste perception, making real food less satisfying Often come from genetically modified corn or pesticide-laden sources They’re not nourishing. They’re tricking your tongue while burdening your gut. If you’re constantly bloated, craving sweets, or swinging between energy highs and lows,  check the back of your “health” products. You might be sweetening your way into dysregulation. 4. It’s packed with fillers you didn’t even know to look for Ever flipped over a bottle and seen ingredients like: Silicon dioxide Magnesium stearate Maltodextrin Titanium dioxide Sunflower lecithin Cellulose gum None of these build your health. They’re not in there for you. They’re in there for the machines, to prevent clumping, help powders flow better, and extend shelf life. These are food additives, not nutrients. They’re cheap, often derived from corn or soy, and sometimes inflammatory, especially when they add up across multiple products. Your “clean” routine shouldn’t be full of industrial byproducts. 5. You’re still taking 6 products to do 1 job Your stack shouldn't need a spreadsheet. If you’re relying on a blend of: A greens powder A protein isolate A separate collagen A multivitamin A gut supplement An energy booster ...something isn't right. The more fragmented your nutrition, the harder your body has to work to make sense of it. What you need isn’t a cabinet full of half fixes.  So what's the alternative? Start with the question: Would my great-grandmother recognise this as food? Because your body still does. Instead of a dozen synthetic blends, opt for bioavailable whole foods that still exist within their nutritional ecosystem: complete, cofactor-rich and bio intelligent. For example... The vitamin A in beef liver comes with zinc and copper, needed for proper absorption and utilisation The calcium in raw dairy comes bundled with fat-soluble vitamins A, D & K2,  so it actually reaches your bones and teeth The collagen in bone broth arrives with glycine and proline, amino acids that rebuild connective tissue and soothe the nervous system The iodine in seaweed is paired with selenium and tyrosine, key cofactors for thyroid hormone production and balance The ferments deliver enzymes, probiotics, and lactic acid, a trio of gut-loving allies no capsule can replicate Pair that with sunlight, deep sleep and breathwork, and you may realise your body didn't need another artificially-manufactured wellness brand telling you it’s the missing piece. Because no one wants to spend £45 on something their gut resents.

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Tooth decay is a modern disease (our guide to healthy teeth)

April 06, 2025

Tooth decay is a modern disease (our guide to healthy teeth)

We’ve been taught to see our teeth as separate from the rest of our body. As if they’re inert, lifeless structures that can only be drilled, filled, or protected with synthetic chemicals. But the truth is far more hopeful. Your teeth are alive. Mineral rich, blood nourished, constantly regenerating tissues, deeply responsive to the foods you eat and the rituals you practice. They are mirrors of your internal state: resilient when nourished, fragile when neglected. And perhaps most surprisingly, tooth decay is not inevitable. It’s a modern disease, born of nutrient loss and processed food. And yes, it can be prevented, and even reversed, through ancestral nutrition and gentle, rewilded care. And your ancestors? They barely knew what a cavity was. Why this matters so much Your oral hygiene ripples far beyond your smile. Inflammatory gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis don’t stay confined to the gums, they leak inflammation into the entire body. Oral pathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis can enter the bloodstream, trigger immune reactions, and even cross the blood-brain barrier. In fact, chronic gum disease has been linked to: Alzheimer’s disease, via inflammatory plaque in the brain Heart disease, through arterial inflammation and bacterial endotoxins Type 2 diabetes, which is both caused by and worsened by gum inflammation Gut disorders, via the oral-gut microbiome axis Systemic fatigue and autoimmune flares, often downstream of oral infections. A tale of two diets In the early 1930s, dentist and researcher Weston A. Price travelled the world to study the dental health of traditional communities. From the Swiss Alps to the African savannah to the islands of the South Pacific, he found something astonishing: populations eating their native diets had straight, white, cavity-free teeth, and most had never seen a dentist in their life or even used toothpaste. These communities were eating whole foods: raw dairy, wild fish, organ meats, root vegetables, fermented grains, and animal fats. Their dental arches were wide, their smiles radiant, their immunity strong. But when these same groups began eating imported white flour, sugar, and canned goods, tooth decay appeared within a generation. Crowded teeth, narrow jaws, and cavities became common. Their once impeccable oral health collapsed under the weight of industrialised food. Tooth decay, then, is not a genetic inevitability. It’s a consequence of modern life, and one we can choose to step away from. The true foundation of healthy teeth Modern dentistry focuses on the surface: fluoride treatments, antibacterial mouthwashes, and fillings. But ancestral wisdom, backed by emerging science, tells a different story: healthy teeth are built from the inside out. To support vibrant oral health, we must nourish our bodies with the nutrients that structure, remineralise, and defend our teeth, and avoid the habits that quietly undermine them. Here’s how: 1. The trinity of tooth integrity: Vitamins A, D & K2 Vitamin A (retinol) Retinol is essential for the formation of dentin, the hard tissue beneath your tooth enamel. It supports immune defences in the mouth and helps maintain mucosal membranes. Most importantly, it works with vitamin D and K2 to help cells lay down mineralised tissue. Deficiencies can lead to malformed teeth and increased risk of decay. Found in: Liver, egg yolks, grass-fed butter, and fatty fish Vitamin D This sunshine vitamin facilitates calcium and phosphorus absorption in the gut, setting the stage for proper tooth mineralisation. Vitamin D receptors are present in tooth-forming cells, your teeth literally listen for it. Found in: Sunlight exposure, fatty fish, egg yolks, and raw milk. Vitamin K2 (MK-4) Perhaps the most overlooked guardian of oral health, K2 activates proteins like osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein, which guide calcium into the bones and teeth. Without K2, calcium goes rogue, often calcifying soft tissues instead. Found in: Grass-fed butter, cheese, goose liver, pastured egg yolks, and fermented foods  These vitamins work in synergy. Without enough fat or dietary cholesterol, their absorption and function is limited. Nature never delivers them separately. They’re bundled together in the sacred foods our ancestors prized most. 2. Flood your body with bioavailable minerals Enamel is made primarily of calcium and phosphorus, held together in a crystalline lattice. These minerals must be supplied consistently through the diet to maintain and rebuild enamel. Focus on: Raw or low-processed dairy Bone broth and gelatine-rich stews Sardines or salmon with the bones Powdered eggshell (as a homemade calcium boost) Sea salt and magnesium-rich foods like cacao or mineral water Many traditional societies even consumed softened bones or mineral-rich clays during pregnancy, to nourish growing jaws and teeth in the womb. 3. Protect your oral microbiome Your mouth contains over 700 species of bacteria,  some protective, some destructive. A traditional, low-sugar diet supports microbial balance, while modern foods create a breeding ground for decay-causing strains like Streptococcus mutans. Avoid: constant snacking, sugar, white flour, and seed oils. And support your good bacteria with raw dairy, fermented foods, and gentle, microbiome-friendly oral care.   4. Rewild your oral care rituals You don’t need mouthwash that burns or toothpaste that foams like a science experiment. Traditional oral care practices are simple, effective, and deeply supportive of long-term health.  Oil pulling An Ayurvedic ritual with roots thousands of years old, oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10–20 minutes (start with 5 and build up). Traditionally done with sesame oil, coconut oil is now popular for its antimicrobial benefits and pleasant taste. Oil is lipophilic, meaning it binds to toxins and the fatty membranes of harmful bacteria. As you swish, it slips between teeth and gums, gently lifting debris, plaque, and even the beginnings of biofilm. It’s like a daily detox bath for your mouth. People who oil pull regularly report: Whiter teeth Fresher breath Less plaque and bleeding gums Smoother enamel and stronger immunity Infuse your oil with herbs like clove or neem for added antibacterial effects. You can also add a drop of vitamin K₂ oil (MK-4) for a remineralising boost, K₂ is fat-soluble and can help heal tiny lesions when applied topically. Pull in the morning while showering or tidying , multitasking meets mouth medicine. Always spit the oil in the bin (not the sink unless you want a call to the plumber) and rinse with warm salt water or herbal rinse afterward.  Herbal tooth powders Before tubes of paste, people used powdered roots, clays, and salts to clean their teeth.  A good tooth powder includes: Bentonite clay: draws out toxins and provides minerals Calcium carbonate or eggshell powder: supports enamel Baking soda: neutralises acids and whitens Sea salt: antiseptic and mineral-rich Clove and cinnamon: anti-inflammatory and warming Optional: activated charcoal, myrrh, or peppermint oil Brush gently with a soft brush, dipping into the powder  Use once or twice daily for gentle polishing and remineralising.   Propolis & mastic gum (chew your medicine) Long before Wrigley’s, people chewed tree sap, bee resins, and plant gums to clean their teeth. These natural chewing gums are rich in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds. Mastic gum (from the mastic tree) strengthens jaw muscles, reduces harmful oral bacteria, and may support facial structure development (though you've probably heard about that already from the looks-maxxing bros ). Propolis (bee resin) soothes inflammation, heals gums, and supports immunity. You can chew raw chunks or use it as a tincture diluted in water as a post-brushing rinse. Chew after meals to stimulate saliva, freshen breath, and mechanically clean the teeth  Tongue scraping Your tongue is a sponge for bacteria and toxins. That white coating in the morning? A sign your body is detoxifying overnight. Use a copper or stainless steel scraper to gently scrape from the back to the front 2–3 times first thing upon waking,  before drinking water. It improves taste, freshens breath, and reduces the microbial load in your mouth. Pair it with oil pulling and brushing for a full morning oral detox sequence. Flossing Silk floss may seem modern, but early humans used fibres, twigs, or horsehair to remove stuck food and plaque. Modern flosses often contain PFAS (forever chemicals). Instead, use: Silk floss coated in beeswax Plant-fibre biodegradable floss Coconut oil or saltwater swish after flossing to flush debris Wrap the floss around each tooth in a gentle C-shape and work slightly below the gumline.   Chewing whole foods and crunchy roots Jaw development and oral hygiene were once built into daily life. Our ancestors chewed meat off bones, snacked on raw vegetables, and nibbled bitter herbs, all of which exercised the jaw, stimulated saliva, and cleaned the teeth. Chew crisp raw veg like carrots or celery after meals. Gnaw on meat or ribs. Chew sticks like licorice root or guava leaves for antimicrobial benefits. Chewing is a lost hygiene tool, and it’s free.

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A 4-part meal plan for gut repair

April 03, 2025

A 4-part meal plan for gut repair

Gut repair isn’t a war on sourdough or a race to out-supplement your symptoms. Most gut plans sound like punishment. But the gut doesn’t thrive on fear, rather the opposite.

If your gut could write the menu for the day, it would look something like this (with recipes from breakfast to bedtime): Part 1: Seal the lining Your gut lining is delicate, yet capable of miraculous regeneration. It renews itself every 3–5 days, but only if you stop attacking it long enough for repair to begin. That starts the moment you wake up. Most people wake up and pour caffeine into an empty, inflamed gut. Not here. Enter: collagen-rich foods. A steaming mug of bone broth, slow-simmered from gelatinous cuts like oxtail, marrow bones or chicken feet, floods the gut with glycine and proline,  the very amino acids your body uses to rebuild tight junctions and reinforce the intestinal wall. Glycine in particular calms inflammatory triggers like NF-κB, helping the gut shift out of fight mode and into repair mode. Then comes the fat. Add a spoonful of ghee or grass-fed butter and you’re not just making your breakfast richer,  you’re delivering butyrate, the short-chain fatty acid your colon cells feed on. Butyrate energises the intestinal lining and boosts mucin production,  that silky, slippery protective layer that prevents irritation, pathogens, and abrasion. In other words, you’re laying down a buffer. A balm. A biological layer of calm before anything else has a chance to aggravate it. Breakfast  A mug of warm bone broth (see our Bone Broth Recipe) To start your day on a sweeter note try our Bone Broth Smoothie or Bone Broth Hot Chocolate, or our Bee Shield Smoothie  if you want to skip the bones altogether but still get the benefits of collagen Soft-scrambled pastured eggs, cooked low and slow in ghee or butter Stewed fruit, simmered with Ceylon cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt Bone marrow on sourdough Part 2: Repopulate the flora By lunchtime, your digestive fire is roaring, and your microbes are ready to feast. But not on random fibre bars or synthetic prebiotics. They’re craving the tangy, fermented foods your ancestors thrived on, paired with bile-boosting organ meats. We start with the stars: fermented vegetables like sauerkraut or kimchi. These aren’t just crunchy condiments,  they’re microbial seeding bombs, teeming with Lactobacillus, antimicrobial peptides, and acidifying compounds that rebalance your internal ecosystem. Here’s our step-by-step guide to making sauerkraut at home Then, we give those microbes their favourite food: fermentable fibres from root vegetables. Roasted carrots, mashed parsnips, or turnips, these dissolve into a gel and ferment beautifully in the colon, creating short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. (There it is again, the golden gut fuel!)  Next come the unsung heroes: animal fats and organ meats. Because you can’t digest fats or absorb fat-soluble vitamins without bile, and you won’t get good bile flow unless you eat the foods that stimulate it. That means egg yolks, liver, and fattier cuts like lamb shoulder. Bile also has antimicrobial properties and keeps bacterial overgrowth at bay. Lunch Hearty + ancestral Lamb shoulder with kimchi and roasted carrots in tallow Oxtail stew with a spoon of fermented beetroot Shredded beef with mashed parsnips and a dollop of liver pâté Simple + quick Tinned mackerel or sardines with fermented carrot & avocado, or pickles Organ meat or oysters for a deep nutritional boost Part 3: Detox and digest Because the gut doesn’t regenerate in a stressed, stimulated state, it does its best work after sunset, while you’re resting, digesting, and detoxifying.  Which is why dinner should do exactly that: support detox, ignite digestion, and soften the system into parasympathetic repair mode. This is where the liver steps in as the overnight ally. To run its Phase I and Phase II detox pathways, the liver needs an abundance of B vitamins, retinol, sulphur, magnesium, and antioxidants. So, we give it what it’s asking for. That might look like a few bites of beef liver sautéed in ghee with onions and lemon,  an ancestral multivitamin loaded with preformed vitamin A, B₆, B₁₂, folate, copper, and zinc. Don’t forget the bitter greens. A small bowl of sautéed dandelion or rocket with a drizzle of vinegar can stimulate bile like nothing else. And when bile flows, toxins go, carried out through the stool instead of recirculating. Finish with a ginger or fennel tea, maybe a touch of raw honey. Dinner Grass-fed beef liver, sautéed with onions, garlic, and lemon (or any grass-fed meat of choice) Steamed bitter greens (rocket, chard, dandelion) Sweet potato mash with turmeric, black pepper, and grass-fed butter Herbal tea: ginger, peppermint, or fennel with a spoon of raw honey Part 4: No day should go by without a gut healing treat And the key to a gut healing treat are collagen or gelatine. Not sure what sets them apart? Here’s our quick guide on the difference But who cares about theory when there's sweet treats in store. Check out: Gut Healing Marshmallows (to pair with your Bone Broth Hot Chocolate) Raw Milk Panna Cotta Animal Based Fruit Gummies Rituals for resilience Food is medicine, yes, but if the rest of your life is wired, rushed, and screen-lit past midnight, no meal plan in the world is going to save your gut. Because the gut doesn’t operate in isolation. It’s hardwired into your nervous system, synced with your hormones, entrained to your circadian rhythm. So if you’re serious about healing, you need to think beyond the plate. Vague nerve relaxation: The vagus nerve is the long, wandering nerve that connects your brainstem to your gut, and when it’s activated, digestion flows, inflammation drops, and your gut lining gets the signal of safety. Simple practices like deep belly breathing, humming, cold exposure, and even gargling can tone the vagus. No expensive gadgets required. Fascia massage: Your gut isn't floating in space. It's wrapped in fascia,   layered in nerves, and heavily impacted by physical tension. Slouched posture, emotional stress, a tight diaphragm, all of it compresses your core and slows digestion. That’s why a nightly ritual of belly massage, hip openers, or even rolling out the ribcage can do more than feel good,  it can literally get things moving again. Magnesium: This is your gut’s favourite mineral, and most of us don’t get nearly enough. Magnesium calms the nervous system, relaxes the intestines, eases constipation, and deepens the quality of sleep (aka gut regeneration hours). Rub it on your belly, sip it in a warm tea, or soak in an Epsom bath, whatever your form, make it a little ritual. Live by the rhythms of the sun: Your gut, like the rest of your body, runs on circadian rhythms. Gut cells regenerate at night. Digestive enzymes spike in the morning. When you ignore these patterns:  late-night meals, chaotic sleep, no morning light, you throw off everything from gut permeability to microbial diversity. So step outside at sunrise. Dim your lights after dinner. Eat with the sun. Sleep with the moon. In the mood (or need) to go down a gut health rabbit hole? We have some more articles for the curious You don't need another overpriced probiotic or gut shot (our gut health guidemap)  Read here 5 foods you think are healthy (but are secretly ruining your gut Read here Colostrum, the ancient remedy for gut health Read here 6 mistakes you're making to worsen your IBS  Read here 5 "healthy" exercise supplements that are ruining your gut Read here  

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Find out which organ your body needs the most (with recipes)

March 29, 2025

Find out which organ your body needs the most (with recipes)

Let’s face it. We love talking about organs. It’s also like a game for us to unlock new organs to try. For example, I tried intestine soup last week for the first time. Interesting for sure. Definitely a bit of a texture curveball, but oddly satisfying, once you get past the initial “what am I eating?” moment. The thing is, adding any kind of offal to your diet will make absolutely monumental differences in your health. These are nature’s nutritional jackpots: dense, bioavailable, and precisely what your body has been craving. That said, certain organs are better suited to different goals, health differences, and life stages. Lo and behold, our organ guide map. For the... endurance athlete Endurance athletes burn through nutrients like wildfire. You run, you cycle, you hike through fog-drenched mountains in a state of masochistic bliss. You cannot do it without sustained, efficient, mitochondria-humming performance. That's why heart is your organ. Why heart? The heart is the hardest-working muscle in the animal’s body, and it’s built for stamina. It’s loaded with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vital molecule that powers mitochondrial energy production. Your mitochondria are constantly churning out adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to keep your muscles contracting and your heart pumping efficiently. Without adequate CoQ10, energy stalls, recovery lags, and endurance takes a nosedive. Heart is also a robust source of B12, riboflavin (B2), zinc, and heme iron,  all crucial for maintaining red blood cell production and oxygen transport. These nutrients keep your blood richly oxygenated and your muscles primed for action Plus, the collagen and elastin naturally present in heart support joint resilience and muscle recovery, no small bonus for athletes constantly pounding the pavement or trail. A recipe or two to try Peruvian Anticuchos (Grilled heart skewers):  Tender chunks of beef heart marinated in vinegar, garlic, and smoked chilli paste, then skewered and grilled to perfection. Smoky, spicy, and nutrient-dense, a street food classic turned endurance fuel. Beef heart chilli: Slow-cooked heart simmered with tomatoes, kidney beans, and warming spices. The rich, meaty flavour pairs well with cumin and smoked paprika, while the long cooking time tenderises the muscle into melt-in-your-mouth perfection. If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: 5 exercise supplements that are ruining your gut For the... functional mother You wake up early, manage small humans, do the school run, perhaps work a full time job, and maybe even remember to feed yourself somewhere in between. Your life is relentless, and your body is carrying the load. Motherhood can unfortunately cause great nutrient depletion.  Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, sleepless nights, stress, and never-ending multitasking,  it’s a recipe for burnout if you’re not replenishing what’s lost. Your body is constantly giving, constantly nourishing, but who’s nourishing you? Liver is the most nutrient dense food on the planet, and is the most important for someone giving so much. Why liver? Liver is pure, unadulterated nourishment. It’s jam-packed with heme iron, which replenishes blood and boosts energy after the inevitable blood loss of childbirth.  When you’re pregnant, your baby taps into your iron and folate reserves to grow. Postpartum, those reserves can feel seriously depleted, leaving you fatigued, foggy, or just flat-out burnt out. Liver’s heme iron and B12 directly support red blood cell production and oxygen transport, helping to lift that bone-deep tiredness. Then there’s choline,  essential for brain health and cognitive function, and absolutely crucial for breastfeeding mothers, as it supports your baby’s developing brain while also keeping your mood balanced and your mind clear. Most people simply don’t get enough, but liver covers it effortlessly. And the vitamin A in liver? It’s preformed and ready to use, unlike beta-carotene from plants that your body has to convert (not always efficiently). All keys to getting back on your feet again.  A recipe or two to try Fried liver and onions with lemon: Thin slices of beef or lamb liver seared with caramelised onions, finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to cut through the richness. Chicken Liver Pâté: Creamy, silky, and indulgent. Chicken livers are gently sautéed with onions and garlic, blended with butter, then chilled to perfection. Spread on toast or crackers, it’s a decadent way to sneak in a powerhouse of nutrients without even realising it. If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: How to fuel each stage of your child's growth For the...longevity seeker You’re the type who knows how to optimise every aspect of your life. You’ve got your morning sunlight routine nailed, your sleep schedule is meticulously curated, and your diet is the epitome of whole, nutrient-dense goodness. Most people chasing longevity reach for goji berries and NAD boosters. But lung? It’s nature’s original biohack Why lung? Lung builds longevity at the levels that matter most: your mitochondria, your blood, your breath. It’s rich in glycine, elastin, and collagen-building peptides, compounds that support collagen integrity, keeping your skin supple, your joints fluid, and your blood vessels elastic. In other words: they help you stay structurally young. It’s also one of the rare meats that naturally contains vitamin C, a crucial antioxidant that supports collagen synthesis, immune defence, and protects against oxidative stress (one of the silent accelerators of ageing). Pair that with its content of heme iron, critical for oxygen transport and efficient ATP production,  and lung becomes a direct ally in improving oxygen uptake and mitochondrial efficiency, two absolute non-negotiables for longevity. Better oxygenation means better cellular function, clearer cognition, and a higher baseline for endurance and energy. A recipe or two Coriander lung and liver cleanser: Tender slices of beef lung and liver marinated in lime juice, garlic, and fresh coriander, then quickly seared in ghee until just cooked through. Finished with an extra squeeze of lime and a scattering of vibrant coriander leaves. Light, aromatic, and perfect over a crisp fennel salad or steamed jasmine rice. If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: 5 underrated longevity practices everyone should be doing For the... chronically exhausted & burnt out You’re tired. Not just “need a nap” tired. Tired-tired. Nervous system fried, blood sugar wobbly, too wired to sleep and too foggy to think. You’ve burnt through your nutrient stores and now your body’s giving you that blank stare. That’s why kidney is your organ. Why kidney? When the body is in a prolonged state of stress, it leans heavily on the adrenals,  and in traditional medicine systems (like TCM), the kidneys and adrenals are seen as deeply intertwined. The kidney-adrenal axis governs long-term energy reserves, electrolyte balance, hormonal recovery, and mineral retention. Kidney is rich in selenium, B12, and bioavailable iron, three nutrients critical for mitochondrial health and red blood cell production, which is often sluggish in the chronically fatigued. Selenium helps regulate thyroid hormone, calm inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress (especially when the nervous system is fried). B12 brings oxygen back to the tissues and sharpens the fog. A recipe or two to try Kidney and caramelised shallots: Lamb kidney sliced and pan-seared in ghee, with slow-cooked shallots and a splash of apple cider vinegar to balance the richness. Serve over mashed celeriac or roasted squash for a grounding, mineral-rich meal. Slow-cooked kidney stew with rosemary: Kidneys braised with beef bones, garlic, and fresh rosemary until fork-tender. The broth is deeply restorative, mineral-rich, and ideal for sipping when energy is low and appetite is minimal If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in:  5 ways to replenish your body after burnout For the... one with gut problems Digestive drama? It’s not just about what you eat, it’s also about how you break it down. We talk about probiotics and fibre, but what about enzymes? Pancreas is the forgotten player in the gut health conversation, and it could be your missing piece. Why pancreas? Pancreas is your body’s unsung digestive maestro, an enzyme factory responsible for turning whole foods into absorbable nourishment. It contains a full spectrum of digestive enzymes: lipase (for fat), protease (for protein), and amylase (for carbs). Together, they take the digestive burden off your system and help you reclaim the energy you’re meant to get from your food. Even cooked, it’s still a rich source of selenium, B12, and B5 — all nutrients that support the adrenals, nervous system, and hormone balance (which are often affected downstream when digestion is poor). A recipe or two to try Pancreas and sweet potato hash: Sautéed slivers of pancreas with diced sweet potato, ghee, and thyme. A grounding, enzyme-rich breakfast that supports digestion and stabilises energy for hours. Pancreas pâté with rosemary and garlic: Gently poached pancreas blended with butter, garlic, rosemary, and sea salt until smooth and creamy.  If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: You don't need another probiotic or gut shot For the...one with a heavy menstrual cycle You lose a lot of blood every month. Like a lot. Maybe you’ve been told your ferritin is “low but within range,” but the fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness and mystery bruises say otherwise. You might not have heard that spleen will replenish you. Why spleen? Spleen is one of the most overlooked, yet deeply restorative, organs for women who bleed heavily. It's nature’s most potent blood builder, delivering a rare trifecta: heme iron, copper, and vitamin C, all in one food. Together, these nutrients work synergistically to support haemoglobin production, restore ferritin levels, and build healthy, oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Where synthetic iron supplements can wreak havoc on the gut and lead to constipation or nausea, spleen offers a bioavailable, food-based form that your body can absorb without irritation. Its heme iron is readily recognised by your body, while copper plays a critical (and often forgotten) role in iron mobilisation, helping the iron you consume actually get where it needs to go. A recipe or two to try Spleen meatballs in cinnamon tomato sauce: Finely mince fresh spleen and blend it into grass-fed lamb or beef mince with cumin, coriander, garlic, and mint. Roll into meatballs and gently simmer in a rich tomato sauce spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Comforting, subtly sweet, and stealthily iron-rich. Spleen and rice soup: A warming rice porridge-style soup cooked in bone broth, with shredded spleen, ginger, and a splash of coconut milk. Gentle, nourishing, and perfect for cycle recovery or postpartum. If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: 6 extremely overlooked mineral deficiencies.  For the...one with hypothyroidism You’re cold, sluggish, bloated, and your digestion feels like it’s running on Windows 3. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed, maybe not, but you suspect your thyroid is whispering for help. Or perhaps it's already yelling. Eating thyroid can heal your own. Why thyroid? Incredibly rare in the modern diet, animal thyroid is one of the only foods that contains bioidentical thyroid hormones, specifically, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), in their natural, active form. These hormones are essential for regulating metabolism, temperature, digestion, heart rate, and cellular energy. When your own thyroid is underperforming, consuming animal thyroid (especially raw or freeze-dried) can gently support the very system that's struggling. Thyroid is also naturally rich in iodine, selenium, and tyrosine, the core nutrients needed to manufacture and convert thyroid hormone. These cofactors support the HPT axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid) and help smooth the cascade from brain to body. For those walking the line between burnout and hypothyroidism, this organ can offer a potent, ancestral reset. A recipe or two to try Thyroid mince blend: Mix finely diced thyroid with liver and beef mince, seasoned with rosemary and sea salt. Pan-fry gently for a hidden boost of thyroid-supportive nutrients. Bone broth with thyroid dumplings: Thyroid folded into rice flour dumplings and simmered in a seaweed-infused broth. Rich in minerals, comforting, and surprisingly palatable. If this sounds like you, you may also be interested in: Eating for thyroid support

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6 reasons your hair is thinning (and it has nothing to do with age)

March 27, 2025

6 reasons your hair is thinning (and it has nothing to do with age)

You’re brushing your hair, and suddenly it looks like half your head has migrated to your hairbrush. Or you’re finding stray hairs on your pillow like a soft, sad graveyard.Whether you’re in your twenties or your fifties, thinning hair can hit unexpectedly and feel deeply unsettling.But instead of panic buying expensive haircare, or resigning to “it’s just genetics”, let’s get to the root of the problem (bad pun, sorry). Why it matters Thick hair is instinctually deemed attractive because it’s metabolically expensive.  It’s an evolutionary marker of abundant energy reserves, efficient nutrient absorption and assimilation, strong blood circulation, balanced hormones, a well regulated nervous system and a well developed structural alignment that supports optimal blood flow and lymphatic drainage. So when your hair starts shedding, it’s your body’s way of waving a little white flag, telling you something’s out of balance. Let’s decode what’s going on (and of course how to remedy it). 1. Your gut is leaky It sounds strange, but the health of your digestive system directly impacts your hair. Your gut is responsible for absorbing the nutrients your hair needs and regulating inflammation levels throughout your body. Hair follicles are immune-privileged sites, meaning they’re supposed to be protected from immune attacks. But when your gut is leaky and your bloodstream is loaded with inflammatory compounds, your follicles can become collateral damage. Chronic inflammation pushes hair out of the growth phase (anagen) and into the resting and shedding phases (telogen and catagen). On top of that, a compromised gut means compromised nutrient absorption. Even if you’re eating all the right foods, a leaky gut might be stopping you from absorbing the iron, zinc, B vitamins, and amino acids that your hair relies on. It’s like planting seeds in nutrient-depleted soil. Focus on gelatinous, soothing foods that coat and repair the gut lining: bone broths simmered low and slow, slippery elm tea, and homemade jellies from grass-fed gelatine. Incorporate fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir, these ancient, living foods bring beneficial bacteria that crowd out the pathogenic strains causing inflammation. And for a full guide, check out: You don't need another overpriced probiotic or gut shot 2. You're not eating enough collagen Our founder, Niall, didn’t realise his hair was naturally curly until he started eating collagen and colostrum. Fast forward a few years of chugging bone broth and eating slow-cooked meats, and his hair not only grew back thicker, but it actually curled for the first time in his life. Collagen supplies amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are crucial for maintaining hair structure and tensile strength. These amino acids are often lacking in modern diets, where collagen rich foods have been replaced by processed proteins and low fat, quick-cook meals. Honour the animal by using every part of it. Make broths that dance with marrow and slow-cooked meats that melt in your mouth. Or add a spoonful of Organised to your morning coffee or smoothie. Aim for at least one collagen-rich meal per day to feed your follicles from the inside out. 3. Your diet is starving your follicles  Let’s get real, if you’re on a low-calorie, low-protein, or overly restrictive diet, your hair will pay the price. Hair is a luxury for your body. If it senses scarcity, it’ll conserve energy by shedding hair and slowing regrowth. Hair is made up of keratin, a structural protein, and without adequate protein intake, your follicles simply don’t have the building blocks to grow strong strands. Iron deficiency is another common culprit. Hair follicle cells are among the fastest-dividing cells in your body, and they require iron to fuel DNA synthesis. Low iron levels essentially slow down hair production, pushing follicles into their resting phase prematurely. And let’s not forget essential fatty acids. Omega-3s from animal sources (like grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and pastured eggs) support scalp health and reduce inflammation around the follicles. Without them, your scalp becomes dry and flaky, another red flag for thinning hair. Protein is the foundation here, but not just any protein, organ meats are the ultimate hair food. Rich in bioavailable iron, B vitamins, zinc, and CoQ10, they provide the raw materials your follicles need to thrive. Liver, in particular, is packed with heme iron and retinol (active vitamin A), both crucial for oxygenating your scalp and regulating oil production. Heart delivers CoQ10 for cellular energy, while kidney and spleen boost your iron stores and fortify hair at the root.  And don’t shy away from animal fats, they carry fat-soluble vitamins that your hair needs. 4. Your hormones are in chaos  Thyroid dysfunction  When your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), it slows down everything, from your energy levels to your hair's growth rate. This often leads to brittle, thinning hair, especially around the scalp and even the eyebrows (notably the outer third).  On the flip side, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause rapid hair shedding and a fine, soft texture. Your body is essentially burning through resources too fast to keep your hair in good shape. Both conditions disrupt the hair growth cycle, pushing follicles out of the active growth phase (anagen) prematurely. Cortisol overload Stress doesn’t just make you feel frazzled, it fundamentally alters your physiology.  While useful in short bursts, chronic elevation of cortisol essentially tells your body that survival is more important than luxuries like hair growth. This stress-induced hair loss is called telogen effluvium, and it often shows up a few months after a major life stressor, like illness, trauma, or intense emotional strain. Essentially, stress pushes a significant percentage of your hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase, where they stay for a while before shedding en masse. This explains why hair loss might appear suddenly even though the stressful event occurred months earlier. Start with your thyroid: prioritise iodine-rich seafood, selenium from Brazil nuts, and zinc from oysters or beef. Swap inflammatory vegetable oils for saturated fats like butter and coconut oil to support hormone synthesis and stabilise metabolism. In the evenings, dim the lights, listen to grounding music (like binaural beats or ancient hymns), and use magnesium oil on your feet to ease your nervous system into a parasympathetic state. Now for a two-in-one saviour:  fascia release that not only melts tension from your nervous system but also reawakens your follicles back into action. Releasing tension in the suboccipitals and occipital muscles (at the back of your neck and base of your skull) boosts blood flow and lymphatic drainage to your scalp, essential for nourishing hair follicles. It’s also a headache reliever, face-lifter, and stress-melter all in one. You’ll notice looser shoulders, a relaxed upper back, and a sense of spaciousness around your head and neck. Best practiced with a small sports ball. 5. Your scalp is a warzone Think of your scalp as the soil where your hair grows. If it’s inflamed, congested, or covered in buildup, it’s not going to support robust growth. Scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, or just plain dandruff can suffocate your follicles and hinder growth. Chronic inflammation around hair follicles causes microcirculation issues, reducing blood flow and oxygen to the roots. And if your scalp microbiome is out of whack (thanks to harsh shampoos or environmental toxins), opportunistic microbes can take over, irritating follicles and triggering shedding. Treat your scalp like a garden. Brush it daily with a boar bristle brush to stimulate blood flow and exfoliate dead skin. Once a week, massage your scalp with warm oil infused with rosemary and peppermint to invigorate circulation. Rinse your hair with raw apple cider vinegar diluted in warm water to restore pH balance and clear away buildup (some advice we learnt from our amazing community member Ivana). Plus it makes your hair super shiny. Let your hair dry naturally in the sun when possible, allowing sunlight to energise the follicles and promote a healthy microbiome. 6. You're surrounded by toxins Modern life is a chemical soup. From pollutants in the air and water to chemicals in hair products and even heavy metals in your food, your body is constantly working to detoxify. If your detox pathways are overwhelmed, your body will prioritise keeping vital organs safe over growing thick, lustrous hair. Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium can directly interfere with hair follicle function. They damage cellular structures, inhibit enzyme activity, and induce oxidative stress that can push follicles into dormancy. Endocrine disruptors like BPA and phthalates mimic hormones and can interfere with your body’s natural endocrine system. These synthetic chemicals can bind to hormone receptors, displacing your own hormones and causing metabolic chaos that impacts hair health. Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), can settle on the scalp, creating oxidative stress that damages hair follicles. People living in highly polluted areas often report more hair thinning and scalp irritation. Switch to toxin-free hair care and household products. Open your windows often to ventilate your space. Filter your shower water to reduce exposure to hard minerals and chlorine. Eat heavy metal detoxifying foods: cilantro, chlorella, and bitter greens  Drink dandelion root tea to support liver function and sweat out toxins through regular movement. Reclaim ancient cleansing rituals like sauna bathing or clay masks to draw impurities out from deep within. Give your body a chance to detoxify daily, don’t wait for it to catch up. If you’re going through postpartum or menopause, know that there are even more factors at play when it comes to hair health. Hormonal upheavals, nutrient depletion, and stress can all conspire to make hair thinning more pronounced. We’re working on separate guides specifically tailored to support you through these life stages (they truly deserve their own in depth roadmaps).

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