6 ways to boost brain health

August 20, 2025

6 ways to boost brain health

Brain fog, poor memory, and mental fatigue aren't just a case of getting older. Simple changes to what you eat and how you live can dramatically improve your mental clarity and cognitive function, as well as help protect you from brain related diseases later in life. Here are six ways that can transform how your brain feels and performs. 1. Swap polysaturated fats for saturated fats Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) from seed oils, including soy, canola, corn, sunflower, and rapeseed are highly unstable. They oxidise easily, especially at body temperature, producing free radicals that can damage neurons. Since the brain is about 60% fat, when PUFA becomes part of brain cell membranes, it makes them fragile and more prone to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress leads to the formation of lipid peroxides, toxic byproducts that inflame the brain. The consequences include impaired mitochondrial function, reduced neurotransmitter efficiency, and accelerated neurodegeneration, all of which contribute to brain fog and faster cognitive aging. Saturated fats, found in butter, coconut oil, and beef tallow are chemically stable and don't oxidize easily. When these fats make up brain cell membranes, neurons become more resilient to damage. Beyond structural support, saturated fats provide steady energy and help produce cholesterol, a key building block for brain hormones and cell repair. High PUFA consumption increases oxidative stress, making the brain more vulnerable. In contrast, a diet rich in saturated fats creates a stronger, more stable foundation for neurons, reducing free radical damage and supporting long-term cognitive function. 2. Support your gut health The connection between gut health and brain function is well-established, and it runs deeper than most people realise. The gut is often referred to as the second brain, and for good reason. It produces over 30 neurotransmitters, including around 90% of your serotonin and about 50% of your dopamine, both essential for mood regulation, focus, sleep, and emotional resilience. When the gut lining is compromised or the microbiome becomes imbalanced (due to stress, antibiotics, ultra-processed foods, or seed oils), it can trigger low-grade inflammation that reaches the brain. This inflammation contributes to common symptoms like brain fog, poor concentration, anxiety, and even depression. Supporting the gut is one of the most powerful, and overlooked, ways to improve cognitive function. Key gut-supporting foods include: Bone broth rich in glycine and gelatine, it helps repair and seal the gut lining Raw dairy provides beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and fat-soluble vitamins Fermented foods (in moderation) offer probiotics that help maintain microbial diversity Collagen-rich meats from joints and slow-cooked cuts support intestinal wall integrity Organ meats dense in B vitamins, zinc, and retinol which nourish gut tissue and detox pathways Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and a strong gut lining doesn’t just support digestion, it builds the foundation for clearer thinking, improved memory, more stable energy, and a calmer, more focused mind. In short, if you want to think better, feel better, and age with clarity, start with the gut. Curious where to start? We have some resources... 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 3. Eat more brain building nutrients Certain nutrients are especially important for brain function, and many people don't get enough of them from modern diets. Red meat Despite what you might have heard, red meat is one of the best foods for your brain. Grass-fed beef provides creatine, which fuels the energy centers in your brain cells. People who eat adequate creatine often experience better memory, faster thinking, and improved mental clarity, especially under stress. Red meat also contains taurine, an amino acid that helps balance brain chemicals and protects neurons from burning out under pressure. The iron in red meat carries oxygen to brain tissue. B12 supports the protective coating around nerve fibers. These nutrients work together to keep your brain sharp and resilient. Other key brain nutrients Egg yolks provide choline, which your brain uses to make acetylcholine, crucial for memory Fatty fish like salmon supply DHA omega-3s that keep brain cell membranes flexible 4. Step away from screens Constantly scrolling through short form content such as social media, reels, and short videos keeps your brain in a state of constant distraction. This “attention fragmentation” reduces your ability to focus, slows deep thinking, and can contribute to brain fog.  Spending extended periods on long-form tasks such as reading books, writing, learning a new skill, or working on a creative project strengthens neural pathways and improves cognitive stamina. When you dedicate hours rather than seconds to a single activity, your brain practices sustained attention, problem-solving, and memory retention. Practical tips: Schedule phone-free blocks during the day to engage in focused work or learning Read longer-form content such as books, essays, or research articles to deepen comprehension. Practice “deep work” sessions of 60–90 minutes without interruptions. Engage in creative hobbies such as writing, drawing, coding, or music which stimulate multiple brain regions. Take mindful breaks outdoors to reset your attention and reduce mental fatigue. By stepping away from short, scattered attention and embracing focused, longer-form activities, you train your brain for clarity, better memory, and sustained concentration. 5. Protect your brain with antioxidants Your brain uses a lot of energy, which creates harmful byproducts called free radicals. As we touched on earlier, these can damage brain cells and speed up mental aging. Antioxidants neutralise these harmful substances and protect your neurons. Best antioxidant sources for brain health Berries like blueberries are packed with compounds that cross into your brain and directly protect nerve cells. Dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher) contains flavonoids that improve blood flow to your brain.  Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant, and getting this from acerola cherry provides a huge boost. Surprisingly, red meat provides carnosine, a powerful antioxidant that specifically protects brain tissue. Organ meats contain CoQ10, which supports the energy-producing structures in your cells. Brazil nuts and eggs provide selenium, a mineral that helps your body's own antioxidant systems work better. These foods work together to shield your brain from daily damage and keep your mind sharp as you age. 6. Move your body & prioritise sleep  Physical activity and quality sleep are two of the most powerful ways to improve brain function, yet they're often the first things we sacrifice when life gets busy. Why movement matters Exercise increases blood flow to your brain, delivering more oxygen and nutrients. It also triggers the production of BDNF, a protein that helps brain cells grow and form new connections.  Even as short as a daily  20 minute walk can improve memory and mental clarity but we recommend you do more walking than that if you can! The power of sleep During deep sleep, your brain activates its cleaning system, washing away toxic waste that builds up during the day. Poor sleep leaves these toxins in your brain, leading to fog and poor performance the next day. Create a sleep-friendly environment with blackout curtains and avoid screens for at least an hour before bed, block blue light as early as possible (7pm onwards) These simple changes can dramatically improve both sleep quality and next-day mental sharpness. Your brain has an amazing ability to improve at any age. These simple, practical changes can help you think more clearly, remember better, and feel mentally energised throughout your day.

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Meet Hill Farm Real Food

August 18, 2025

Meet Hill Farm Real Food

If you’ve been with us from the start, you’ll already know Hill Farm. They were the first farm we ever brought on board to the Organised app. The first real test of what this whole idea could be, and the living, breathing heart of everything we stand for.  Their food speaks for itself, rich, honest, and nourishing in ways supermarket shelves can’t replicate, but it’s their way of farming, their way of living, that makes you fall in love with them. But just because they need no introduction doesn’t mean their story doesn’t deserve to be told. The Aidley family have been stewards of this land since 1938, when Tim’s grandfather first started farming here and even today it remains a family farm, with Tim and Elaine joined by their three sons, Matt, Ben and Dan, all of whom are full-time on the farm. Dairy has long been the heartbeat of Hill Farm, but they’ve always shared their meat and eggs with neighbours, friends, and family. Over time, that circle grew. And in 2020, they did what many wouldn’t dare, they stepped away from the safety of the commodity food system and launched Hill Farm Real Food. Hill Farm is fully organic, but in practice, they go far beyond organic standards.Their calves suckle naturally. Their soil is never routinely cultivated. And all their animals are managed without antibiotics or pharmaceuticals of any kind. Instead, they use homeopathy, herbal medicine and natural remedies When we arrived at Hill Farm, the first thing we noticed wasn’t the fields, or the cows, or even the sweeping views from the ridge. It was the warmth. The Aidleys welcomed us not as visitors, but as family. Within minutes we were following Matt across dew-soaked pasture, hearing about the rotations of the herd and the life beneath our feet. The entire day unfolded like that, a gentle rhythm of conversation and activity. Matt is a wellspring of farming wisdom. Listening to him is like enrolling in the most accelerated course on regenerative agriculture you could imagine. He speaks with a kind of rapture, about soil as a living microbiome, about cows as ecosystem engineers, about how a healthy pasture can hold water, store carbon, and nourish both animals and people.  The hours slipped away unnoticed. By late evening we realised we’d been so caught up in it all that we hadn’t eaten a thing. Of course, that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Elaine. She ushered us into her home with a knowing smile and before we knew it the table was heavy with food.  Buckwheat sourdough pancakes, still warm from the pan. Sausages made from the farm’s own pigs. Fresh eggs, their yolks almost glowing. Butter so rich and yellow it looked like sunlight captured in a dish (in fact we ate it straight from the bowl with spoons like ice cream. We’ve debated ever since whether it was the sheer exhilaration of the day that made it taste so extraordinary, or whether Elaine’s cooking really is the best in the world. The truth is, it was probably both. You can order their food directly through the Organised app, and have it delivered straight to your doorstep. Hill Farm offers raw A2, organic, grass-fed milk, probiotic-rich raw kefir, and traditional cultured dairy including cream, whey, and buttermilk. They craft raw A2 cheeses and deeply nourishing bone broths, alongside small-batch ancestral fats like cultured ghee and grass-fed beef tallow. Their pasture-raised hens provide organic, soya-free, omega-3-rich eggs, and their regenerative farm produces poultry and grass-finished beef,  including steaks like rump and sirloin, gluten-free beef burgers, mince bundles, and roasting joints. Beyond food, Hill Farm also handcrafts natural tallow based skincare, made with the same integrity they bring to everything they do. 

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Why you should eat dirty eggs

August 16, 2025

Why you should eat dirty eggs

You're at the farmers market and spot a carton of eggs with a few feathers stuck to them, maybe a bit of straw. Your first instinct might be to reach for the cleaner carton next to it. But what if those "dirty" eggs are actually nature's perfectly designed package, and the sparkling clean ones from the supermarket have been stripped of their protective armour? Here's what most people don't know...that invisible coating on unwashed eggs, called the bloom or cuticle, is an ancient piece of biological engineering that modern food systems have decided we don't need. It's a perfect example of how we've complicated something that was never broken in the first place. Nature's perfect packaging gets washed away Every egg comes into the world with its own protective shield,  a delicate coating made of proteins that seals the shell's 10,000-17,000 tiny pores. This bloom is 80-95% proteins, including antimicrobial compounds like lysozyme that actively fight harmful bacteria. It's the egg's first line of defence, and it's been keeping eggs fresh for millions of years before refrigerators existed. In the US, regulations require all commercial eggs to be washed in a chemical bath at temperatures reaching 115°F. This process strips away the entire protective bloom, leaving the shell porous and vulnerable. Once washed, eggs must be refrigerated constantly, they can only survive 2 hours at room temperature before becoming unsafe. Meanwhile, unwashed eggs with their bloom intact can sit on your counter for 2-4 weeks, or even 2-3 months in your fridge. Trading ancestral wisdom for supermarket aesthetics The modern food system has trained us to fear any sign that our food came from the earth. We want our vegetables uniform, our fruits waxy and shining, and our eggs pristine white or brown without a speck of evidence they came from an actual chicken. This disconnection runs so deep that finding a feather on an egg, proof it came from a real bird, makes us uncomfortable. Our ancestors understood something we've forgotten, that the dirtiest looking foods are often the most nourishing. They knew that soil on vegetables meant beneficial bacteria, that fermented foods that looked suspicious were medicine, and that eggs didn't need to be sanitised to be safe. They trusted the intelligence of nature's design because they had to, and their bodies thrived on this trust. The washing requirement stems partly from industrial farming practices where tens of thousands of hens are crammed into facilities, creating genuine contamination risks. But instead of addressing the root cause, the unnatural conditions, we've created an energy-intensive system of washing, sanitising, and constant refrigeration. It's the nutritional equivalent of taking antibiotics preventively instead of supporting your immune system. The hidden benefits your great grandmother knew When you choose unwashed eggs from pasture-raised hens, you're not just getting a longer-lasting product. These eggs often come from birds living the way chickens are meant to live, scratching in dirt, eating insects, basking in sunlight, and converting all that natural behaviour into nutrient density. Research shows eggs from truly pastured hens contain twice the omega-3 fatty acids, 38% more vitamin A, and 3-4 times more vitamin D than their factory-farmed counterparts. The deep orange yolks that seem almost red? That's what happens when hens eat their ancestral diet of grasses, seeds, and insects instead of processed corn and soy. Making the switch to dirty eggs Here’s how to start your switch: Get curious: Find your local farm or farmers’ market that sells unwashed eggs. We’ve put together a full Egg Sourcing Guide to help you know exactly what to look for. Think backyard hens: You’d be surprised how many councils allow a few chickens. There’s something deeply grounding about collecting your own eggs each morning. Trust your senses: A fresh egg has a firm yolk that stands tall, tight whites that don't spread thin, and a clean, neutral smell. These quality markers matter more than pristine shells. Start conversations: Ask your egg farmer about their practices. Do the hens forage? What do they eat? How old are the eggs? This connection to your food source is part of the medicine. We recently visited My Little Farm, one of the farms you can order from directly through the Organised app. Instead of being packed into sheds, they roam free in the fields, scratching and foraging alongside lambs and other animals. We got to meet the chickens ourselves, watching them sunbathe, peck at bugs in the grass, and roam around happily. You can see the difference in their lifestyle, and you can taste the difference in the eggs. Here are a few pictures from our visit, and the beautiful box of produce (dirty eggs included) we recently had delivered straight from the farm to our kitchen. When you choose unwashed eggs, you're not just making a choice about breakfast. You're voting for a food system that respects natural design, supports local farmers who refuse to industrialise, and acknowledges that our ancestors' food practices never needed changing. Your body knows the difference between real food and processed substitutes. Trust that knowing. Seek out those "dirty" eggs with their intact bloom, their deep orange yolks, and their connection to the land. Let them remind you that the best nutrition often comes in the most natural packaging, even if that packaging has a feather stuck to it.

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6 ways to boost your mineral intake (that don't include food)

August 13, 2025

6 ways to boost your mineral intake (that don't include food)

Think nutrition only happens at the dinner table? Think again. We've all been there, staring at our supplement cabinet, wondering if we're really getting enough magnesium, or scrolling through endless lists of synthetic supplements that promise to fix our mineral deficiencies. But here's something that might surprise you... your body can actually absorb nutrients in ways you've probably never realised. Your skin, your lungs, even the soles of your feet,  they're all secretly working as nutrient gateways. And in some cases, these alternative pathways can be even more effective than supplements or forcing down another green smoothie. Ready to discover the world of non-dietary nutrition? Let's dive in. 1. Sunbathing Remember when your grandmother used to say "go get some sun"? Turns out, she was onto something. When UVB rays hit your skin, they trigger an almost magical transformation, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol (a compound naturally present in your skin) into vitamin D3. This isn't just about avoiding seasonal blues. Vitamin D orchestrates calcium absorption, fine-tunes your immune system, regulates hormones, and keeps your muscles functioning properly.  The catch? Without adequate sun exposure, especially during winter months or if you live at higher latitudes, your body simply can't make this happen on its own. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to all sorts of health issues, so getting enough sun exposure in a sensible way will be helping your body immensely, after all why do you think your cat or dog loves to lay in those sun patches?... they are onto something. So that midday break in the garden isn't just for relaxation,  it's helping your health more than you realise. 2. Swimming in the sea Sea swimming does more than just make you feel refreshed and salty. That seawater enveloping your body contains a complex cocktail of minerals that can actually penetrate your skin, especially during longer swims in warmer water. We're talking about magnesium for muscle relaxation, sodium for electrolyte balance, calcium for bone and nerve function, potassium for heart rhythm regulation, and iodine to support thyroid health. Even trace amounts of zinc and selenium make their way through, offering antioxidant and immune support. In Greece, doctors (especially in coastal towns and islands) sometimes write prescriptions for thalassotherapy, which includes swimming in the sea, exposure to sea air, and sometimes walking along the beach, particularly for joint problems, skin conditions, and recovery after illness. It’s rooted in both ancient Greek medicine (Hippocrates recommended seawater baths) and modern practice. 3. Epsom bath salts/magnesium spray Here's where things get interesting from a bioavailability standpoint. That warm Epsom salt bath you take to unwind? It's delivering magnesium directly through your skin, bypassing your digestive system entirely. This method is actually more bioavailable than trying to get magnesium from dietary or supplement sources. As well as being a much better option of absorption for the many people who struggle to absorb magnesium orally due to gut issues such as leaky gut. Epsom salts provide both magnesium (supporting over 300 enzymatic reactions in your body) and sulphur (crucial for detoxification and collagen production). Meanwhile, magnesium chloride sprays take things up a notch,  their more targeted approach penetrates skin more efficiently, often creating that characteristic tingly sensation as it interacts with your nerve endings, which is a sign you are deficient in magnesium! 4. Grounding This might sound far fetched, but the science is surprisingly solid. The Earth's surface carries a negative electric charge, and when your bare skin makes contact with grass, soil, sand, or seawater, electrons can actually transfer into your body. These electrons act as natural antioxidants, neutralising free radicals and potentially reducing inflammation. It's essentially nature's way of helping you reset at the cellular level, no meditation app required. If you've ever had a stressful day and then taken to the garden with your shoes and socks off you probably noticed how calming it feels to finally ground. We are always looking for ways to get more antioxidants into our body through food which are important but we should also look to grounding which one of the best antioxidant you can “take”  5. Mineral hot springs Humans have been seeking out hot springs for millennia, and our ancestors were onto something. These geological wonders are like concentrated mineral delivery systems, with your skin absorbing magnesium for muscle relaxation, calcium for bone health, sodium and potassium for electrolyte balance, and sulphur for joint support and collagen production. The heat opens your pores, the minerals do their work, and you emerge feeling like you've been internally recharged.  6. Herbal oil steam inhalation While primarily known for respiratory benefits, steam inhalation from mineral-rich herbal preparations can deliver trace amounts of minerals through your lungs. Though the quantities are minimal, it's yet another example of how your body finds creative ways to absorb what it needs. What's fascinating about all these methods is how they bypass common absorption issues that plague oral supplementation, no stomach upset, no competition with other nutrients, no concerns about digestive efficiency. Your body is remarkably sophisticated at finding and utilising nutrients from unexpected sources. So the next time you're planning your wellness routine, remember... sometimes the most powerful nutrition can come from practices you do rather than what you eat. Ready to expand your nutrient absorption toolkit? Start with just one of these methods and notice how your body responds. After all, the best supplement might just be stepping outside barefoot or soaking in a warm bath. Curious about the mineral deficiencies almost everyone has, but no one talks about? Find out the 6 most common (how to recognise & how to replenish them).

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How to heal from hormonal birth control

August 07, 2025

How to heal from hormonal birth control

If you're one of the many women who's been on hormonal birth control for years, perhaps even a decade or more, you're not alone in questioning its long term effects. As awareness grows about how synthetic hormones can impact our bodies, more women are seeking ways to support their natural hormone recovery after discontinuing birth control. The good news? Your body has a remarkable ability to heal and rebalance itself when given the right support. Understand what happens when you stop When you stop taking hormonal birth control, you're essentially asking your body to resume its natural hormone production, a process that was suppressed (though not completely shut down) while you were taking synthetic hormones. Whether you used the pill, an implant, or injections, your endocrine system needs time and support to find its natural rhythm again. So supporting your body in this return to natural hormone production and regaining balance is key. One of the most important areas is in lowering estrogen since this is often heightened during hormonal birth control use, leading to what is called estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance (When "The female hormone" works against you Estrogen is often labeled as "the female hormone," but the common belief that more estrogen equals better health is dangerously misleading. Many women are unknowingly struggling with estrogen dominance, a hormonal imbalance that can disrupt everything from mood to metabolism. It's all about balance. Estrogen and progesterone are designed to work in harmony, but when estrogen becomes too high relative to progesterone (even with technically "normal" levels), estrogen dominance occurs. This imbalance has become increasingly common due to hormonal birth control, chronic stress, poor detoxification, processed foods, and exposure to environmental estrogens found in plastics, fragrances, and tap water. To naturally bring about balance we want to support progesterone (the true female hormone) and lower estrogen levels to bring them back to balanced levels. So what steps can you take to support your healing? 1. Swap to ancestral fats Your hormones are literally made from fat, specifically cholesterol and saturated fats. If you've been following a low fat diet, it's time to reconsider. Your endocrine system needs fat to produce and regulate hormones effectively. But firstly what type of fat should you avoid? That would be polyunsaturated fats, but why these fats in particular? The PUFA problem For decades, polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) found in seed oils like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil have been marketed as “heart-healthy” alternatives to saturated fats. But when it comes to hormonal health, particularly thyroid function, the science tells a different story. PUFAs are highly unstable fats that oxidise easily in the body, creating free radicals and inflammation that wreak havoc on hormone balance. Their impact on thyroid function is particularly concerning, affecting metabolism at multiple levels. Suppressed hormone production: PUFA”s inhibit thyroid hormone release and interfere with the conversion of T4 (inactive) to T3 (active thyroid hormone), effectively slowing your metabolism. Estrogen dominance: Stored in fat tissue, PUFA”s promote inflammation that stresses the liver and impairs estrogen metabolism, worsening symptoms like PMS, heavy periods, and stubborn weight gain. Cholesterol disruption: PUFA”s oxidise cholesterol, the building block of all sex hormones disrupting the production of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. Hormone supportive alternatives Instead of unstable PUFAs, choose fats that actually support your endocrine system: Grass-fed butter and ghee Coconut oil (particularly pro-thyroid) Beef tallow Pastured egg yolks Fatty cuts of grass fed meat Whole raw milk These stable, saturated fats nourish your metabolism and support optimal thyroid and sex hormone function. 2. Prioritise nutrient dense foods Think of nutrients as the building blocks and cofactors your body needs for optimal hormone function. After years of synthetic hormones, your body may be depleted in key nutrients essential for natural hormone production. Key nutrients for hormone recovery include: B vitamins (especially B6 and folate) Zinc from oysters, organs and red meat. Magnesium Vitamin D Vitamin A (retinol) from liver, eggs, and dairy for reproductive health Vitamin C for stress support and collagen production Omega-3 fatty acids for inflammation control Cholesterol, the building block of hormones  Incorporating nutrient-dense foods like organ meats, oysters, and raw dairy into your weekly routine. Organ meat is incredibly nutrient dense which can provide you many of the key nutrients listed above, helping you to heal. They truly are natures multivitamin. 3. Support your liver Here's what most people don't understand... estrogen clearance depends entirely on liver function. After the body uses estrogen, the liver breaks it down into metabolites that are eliminated through the gut. But when the liver becomes sluggish from alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, or toxin overload or when gut elimination is compromised by constipation or poor gut health, estrogen recirculates, worsening the dominance cycle. Supporting liver function becomes critical for hormone balance. Key nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, choline, taurine, and antioxidants help the liver safely process and eliminate excess estrogen. However, even optimal liver function means nothing without healthy gut elimination, daily bowel movements are essential to complete the detoxification process. To aid estrogen clearance in the gut we recommend a daily raw carrot salad. But we cannot talk about healing without mentioning healing the gut, the gut and liver are also connected in what’s known as the gut-liver axis, healing the gut as you already know is so crucial to good overall health as well as hormone health. 4. Minimise hormone disruptors As mentioned above lowering your consumption and contact with estrogenic foods and products is a key starting point, it’s very difficult to be perfect with this since many foods  are packaged in plastic but just doing your best is enough...swapping from plastic bottles to a glass one, polyester gym kit to cotton, stainless steel cookware to non stick pans and wooden chopping boards to plastic ones. Many women also don’t see the hidden hormone disruptors in many menstrual products, such as tampons and pads, instead opt for cleaner alternatives to these or 100% cotton period knickers. Then the usual list of hormone disruptors such as perfume, candles, receipts, cleaning chemicals, again the list goes on, it’s often very difficult to avoid them all but try your best. 5. Honour your natural rhythm As your cycle returns, learning to sync with its natural rhythm can accelerate your healing. This doesn't mean adding stress with rigid rules, but rather tuning into your body's needs throughout your cycle. During your menstrual phase, consider choosing gentle movement like walking or restorative yoga over intense workouts, while allowing for more rest and sleep if possible. This is also an ideal time to nourish yourself with warming, iron-rich foods, more magnesium rich foods such as cacao and practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or journaling that help you tune into your body's wisdom. Your body spent years adapting to synthetic hormones, so be patient as it readjusts to its natural state. It has an incredible capacity for healing and by providing it with the right nutrients, reducing toxic load, and honouring its natural rhythms, you're giving yourself the best possible foundation for long-term hormonal health.

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Why stretching isn't fixing your pain (our guide to fascia health)

August 07, 2025

Why stretching isn't fixing your pain (our guide to fascia health)

Ever noticed your organs stay eerily still while you dance, yet your hamstring tightness never fades? Beneath those daily mysteries lies a tissue called fascia, your body's hidden web that shapes movement and stores both physical and emotional trauma. Despite its vast roles, fascia was long ignored in medicine. Truly a case of seeing “muscles and bones” but not the matrix that connects them. What is fascia? In simplest terms, fascia is a three dimensional matrix of collagen fibres, fluid, and gel-like proteins enveloping every muscle, bone, organ, and nerve. Imagine a fine silk weave that both glides and transmits force. When healthy, fascia is supple, letting joints move freely and muscles coordinate seamlessly. But when compromised, whether by repetitive strain, stress, or past injuries, this silken web stiffens or forms adhesions, making stretching feel pointless and leaving you stiff or in pain. Wrapped around muscle fibres (endomysium), bundles (perimysium), entire muscles (epimysium), and even bones, fascia connects everything in one continuous line, much like a tablecloth that, when tugged in one corner, shifts the entire table setting. As a result, your achy calves can alter posture up to your neck. This interplay means fascia shapes how we move, stand, and even sense tension in our bodies. How fascia stores trauma Physical trauma Physical trauma clearly affects fascia. A sprained ankle or surgical incision, for example, triggers the fascia to lay down extra collagen fibres in repair. Scar tissue is essentially fascia that knits up a wound, but often in a haphazard, thicker way. These adhesions can tether tissues that should slide, leading to stiffness or pain around the injury site. Even remote injuries can have body-wide effects: a broken tailbone may set off fascial tightening up the spinal line, manifesting years later as neck pain. Repetitive strain or poor posture is a slower trauma: if you hunch over a desk daily, the fascia in your chest may shorten and thicken, “remembering” that position and resisting change. Over time, the body becomes literally moulded by these persistent fascial patterns. Emotional trauma More intriguingly, emotional and psychological traumas also seem to leave footprints in our fascia. Fascia is densely innervated with sensory neurons, directly linked to the autonomic nervous system, meaning it responds to stress, trauma, and even unprocessed emotions. When we experience a threat, our body instinctively contracts, tenses, or freezes, a primal response to protect itself. If unresolved, these tension patterns can become embedded in the fascia, manifesting as chronic stiffness, pain, or dysfunction long after the event. Emerging research highlights the two-way communication between fascia and the vagus nerve, our key parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nerve. The vagus monitors fascia’s state and signals the brain to adjust tension accordingly. In other words, fascia may be a physical medium through which the mind-body dialogue occurs, our connective tissue as a canvas for the nervous system’s signals. Many bodyworkers and somatic therapists observe that when they release a particularly bound-up area of fascia, clients sometimes experience an emotional catharsis, memories or feelings resurging as the tissue lets go. This is why traditional stretching or strength training often fails to resolve deep-seated pain, because the root issue is not just in the muscles, but in the fascia itself. 3 essential steps to healing fascia Fascia may be prone to tightness, dehydration, or holding stress, but the good news is it’s highly responsive to care. 1. Water for the web Fascia is 70% water, but not all water hydrates fascia equally. When dehydrated, fascia becomes stiff, brittle, and prone to adhesions (small areas of stuck tissue that reduce mobility). Simply drinking more water isn’t enough your body needs the right minerals to retain it. Drink structured water: (naturally occurring in fresh fruits, raw dairy, coconut water, and bone broth). Add natural electrolytes: A pinch of sea salt with lemon in water works perfectly. Magnesium, for example, is essential for protein synthesis including collagen formation, and also helps muscles relax, preventing chronic tension in fascia. Zinc and copper are needed for collagen cross-linking and tissue repair.  2. Myofascial release One of the most direct ways to improve fascial health is through myofascial release techniques: physical methods that massage, stretch, or manipulate fascia to break up adhesions and restore its glide Here are some powerful tools and techniques to liberate your fascial network: Foam rolling: Rolling works by pressing on fascial adhesions and trigger points, helping to dissipate knots and encourage fluid exchange in the tissue. As you roll out a tight spot, you are literally smoothing out fascial wrinkles and stimulating fibroblast cells to remodel. (Tip: Roll slowly and pause on tender points for 30-60 seconds until you feel a release.) Vagus nerve stimulation: Interestingly, one way to release fascia is to work indirectly via the nervous system. Stimulating the vagus nerve can cause a cascade of relaxation in muscles and fascia. Techniques like slow deep breathing, humming or chanting, cold exposure (splashing face with cold water), or gentle gargling all activate the vagus nerve. When the vagus fires, it signals the body to shift out of stress model: heart rate slows, breath deepens, and crucially, fascia relaxes its tension. Resistance stretching: Traditional stretching usually involves relaxing into a pose, but resistance stretching adds an active component: you contract your muscles while lengthening them. This technique (also known as PNF stretching or eccentric training) engages the fascia more effectively. By resisting against the stretch (for example, pushing your heel down while pulling your toes toward you), the fascia is loaded under tension, which can break up internal cross-links and increase its length and elasticity. It  It also stimulates the production of new collagen in a more orderly arrangement due to the tension applied. Yin yoga,  in particular, is essentially a fascial release practice: by staying in a pose 3–5 minutes, you give the fascia time to yield (muscles might relax after 30 seconds, but fascia, being more viscous, takes a couple of minutes to truly stretch). This can flush out waste and even purportedly “flush toxins” from the fascia , easing chronic pain and restoring mobility  Trauma release exercises (TRE): Use gentle fatigue of certain muscles to trigger involuntary shaking, which can discharge tension in the fascia and muscles, relieving stress. Such shaking or tremoring is thought to let the nervous system reboot and the fascia loosen (much like how gelatin jiggling softens). If you’ve ever had an intense workout and found yourself trembling, you’ve touched on this mechanism. Allowing your body to tremor or gently stretching while shaking can be a profound release. 3. Fuel your fascia with ancestral nutrition Fascia is metabolically active, and made up of collagen-rich proteins, meaning it needs collagen, minerals, and bioavailable nutrients to regenerate and stay pliable. Without the right nutrients, fascia can become brittle, weak, and prone to dysfunction. Consume gelatinous foods and collagen: Our ancestors intuitively nourished their fascia by eating the whole animal: boiling bones, skin, and tendons into bone broth, and slow-cooking meats with connective tissue. These traditional foods are rich in gelatine (cooked collagen) and glycosaminoglycans: exactly what fascia is made of. In the past, cooking down bones and fascia into broth provided a bounty of collagen peptides Fascia is integral to every step and stretch you take, and every emotion you hold.  The key is recognising that stubborn pains often live in this hidden web, not just in your muscles. Whether you’re recovering from an old ankle sprain or an emotional upheaval, tending to fascia can help dissolve the barriers that ordinary stretches and workouts never touch, allowing you to discover a body that moves in harmony, bearing neither the weight of past injuries nor the grip of unprocessed stress.

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5 steps to detox heavy metals

August 06, 2025

5 steps to detox heavy metals

Step into any wellness corner of the internet and you’ll be told you’re heavy metal toxic. Mercury in your brain, arsenic in your skin, lead in your bones. And the solution, apparently, is to neck a green smoothie and “flush it all out”. Spoiler... that’s how a lot of people make themselves worse. The truth is, heavy metals are everywhere in our environment. And once inside us, they wedge themselves into enzymes, displace essential minerals, and disrupt the mitochondria that keep our cells functioning. But if you try to push them out too fast or without the right nutritional scaffolding, you risk redistribution, shifting them from somewhere relatively harmless (like your thigh bone) to somewhere catastrophic (like your hippocampus). And at best case? You’ve fallen for expensive wellness marketing.   And there’s a lot more to say here about “detox”. Your body already comes equipped with exquisitely designed detox systems, liver, kidneys, lymph, skin, lungs. Given the right environment (nutrient sufficiency, deep sleep, low toxic exposure, and regular elimination) it can return to homeostasis without a single juice cleanse or enema. The problem is, most modern “detox” protocols do the opposite. They strip the body of nutrients, overwhelm the organs of elimination, and stir up stored toxins without providing a safe way out. Worse still, they often prey on the vulnerable, people desperate for relief from real symptoms, or struggling with eating disorders, selling quick fixes that leave them sicker, more depleted, and convinced they need even more detoxing. This isn’t what we believe here. Our approach is and always will be grounded in nourishment, long term safety, and respect for how the body actually works. 1. Stop them at the source Before addressing the heavy metals already stored in your body, it’s essential to reduce the amount coming in. Lowering ongoing exposure allows your detox systems to work on what’s already there, instead of constantly managing new arrivals. Where heavy metals lurk most... Water supply: arsenic, lead, mercury from old pipes, industrial runoff, and contaminated groundwater Cookware & kitchenware: aluminium pots & pans Personal care products: aluminium in deodorants, heavy metal contamination in makeup pigment Food chain: large predatory fish (tuna, swordfish, shark), rice (arsenic), cacao/chocolate (cadmium), leafy greens grown in polluted soil Household items: old paint (lead), batteries (cadmium, nickel), cheap jewellery and toys (lead, cadmium) Herbal supplements & seaweeds: spirulina, chlorella, and long-lived seaweeds that bioaccumulate metals 2. Stop drinking green powders Here’s the scariest irony. Some of the highest dietary sources of heavy metals are the powders and smoothies marketed to “cleanse” them out of you. Spirulina and chlorella are microalgae with an extraordinary ability to absorb metals from their environment. In nature, this makes them brilliant at cleaning up contaminated water. On your kitchen counter, it means they can arrive already loaded with lead, cadmium, arsenic, or mercury, especially if they’re poorly sourced, which is common in mass market wellness products. 3. Feed a well resourced liver Your liver is the body’s primary processing plant for toxins, including heavy metals, and it needs the right nutrients to function optimally. Phase I and Phase II detox pathways work in sequence to transform metals into forms the body can safely excrete, but this process depends on a constant supply of specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Magnesium and selenium are essential for antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, which protect cells from metal-induced oxidative stress. Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 are required for methylation and conjugation,  key reactions that package toxins for elimination. Amino acids like methionine, cysteine, and glycine physically bind to metals so they can be neutralised and removed. A well-nourished liver is far more effective at clearing toxins than one lacking these resources. Focus on nutrient-dense foods such as: Liver, heart, and bone broth for B vitamins, CoQ10, glycine, and minerals Egg yolks, dairy, and shellfish for choline, selenium, and methionine Seasonal fruit for the carbohydrates that fuel Phase II detox reactions The aim is to maintain a biochemical environment where the liver can process metals steadily and safely, rather than mobilising them without the means to escort them out. 4. Support slow and steady elimination Heavy metals exit the body through well established routes...sweat, urine, bile, and stool. For detoxification to be safe, these pathways must be working efficiently before any attempt is made to mobilise stored metals. If elimination is sluggish, toxins can be reabsorbed and deposited in more vulnerable tissues, exactly what you’re trying to avoid. Here’s how to keep each route clear and dependable: Sweat regularly: Engage in movement that raises your core temperature, use a sauna, or take hot baths. Sweating can remove measurable amounts of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Aim for gentle but consistent sessions rather than occasional extremes. Maintain daily bowel movements: Metals excreted in bile need to leave the body promptly via stool. Gut supportive foods, adequate hydration, and magnesium-rich foods (or magnesium baths) help keep transit time short and predictable. Constipation invites toxins back into circulation through the enterohepatic loop. Protect kidney function: Drink clean, mineral-rich water and maintain electrolyte balance (sodium, potassium, magnesium). Avoid chronic dehydration and excessive diuretics, which can strain the kidneys and slow filtration Support bile flow: Bitter greens like dandelion or rocket, and choline rich foods such as egg yolks, can help maintain bile production and flow, a key route for fat-soluble toxins and metals. 5. Rebuild mineral reserves Toxic metals don’t just accumulate by chance, they often exploit deficiencies. Lead mimics calcium and takes its place in bone. Cadmium competes with zinc in enzymes and reproductive tissues. Mercury binds tightly to selenium, disrupting the enzymes that depend on it. When essential minerals are lacking, metals slip in and occupy their roles, but without performing the job. Restoring mineral reserves gives the body the means to gradually displace these imposters. Over time, as the real minerals become consistently available, the body will swap out the toxic stand-ins for the nutrients it actually needs. A mineral cheatsheet Zinc: Oysters, mussels, crab, beef, lamb, heart Calcium: Raw dairy, kefir, small fish with bones (sardines, anchovies), bone broth Selenium: Wild salmon, kidney, oysters, brazil nuts Magnesium: Cacao, heart,  figs, berries, mineral rich water Potassium: Potatoes, oranges, beetroot, bananas, cherries Iron: Liver, red meat, spleen, shellfish, egg yolks Copper: Liver, oysters, dark chocolate, duck Manganese: shellfish, whole grains (traditionally prepared), tea What frustrates me most about the modern wellness world isn’t just that it gets detox wrong, it’s that it preys on fear. It takes genuine concerns and turns them into marketing hooks. Wellness should be the opposite of that. It should make you feel more capable, more nourished, more in tune with your body’s own intelligence. It should respect the fact that the human body already knows how to repair itself, given the right environment, and that actual healing is often quiet, steady, and unremarkable to watch. Since I’ve had my say, I’d love to hear yours... what wellness marketing scams annoy you the most?

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Hormone disruptors in our most intimate places

August 01, 2025

Hormone disruptors in our most intimate places

We’re taught to blame our bodies for hormonal chaos... our ovaries, our cycles, our “imbalances,” our “unlucky genes.” But the real disruption? It’s delivered daily, from the outside in, to the most sacred parts of our bodies. The supermarket razor you glide across your bikini line. The tampon you reach for without thinking. The aftercare cream marketed to soothe your freshly shaved skin. All of these contain ingredients we rarely question. But they’re placed on the most absorbent areas of the female body,  areas with high blood flow, rich lymphatic tissue, no protective enzyme barrier, and open, permeable skin. Here's what to do instead... Shaving Most women begin shaving before they’ve even understood the rhythms of their cycle. We’re handed plastic razors as teenagers, pastel pink, aloe vera striped, packaged like toys, and taught to view hair as a flaw to remove. But what we’re not taught is that the razors themselves carry ingredients. That the moisture strips often contain synthetic estrogens. That the plastic glides across micro-abrasions invisible to the eye, while releasing parabens, phthalates, titanium dioxide, and synthetic fragrance. When mixed with warm water and steam, these compounds absorb fast , especially in areas rich in hormone-regulating lymphatic tissue. Under the arms, a place rich in lymph nodes. Around the bikini line, where skin is thin and richly vascularised. Over thighs and calves, areas that absorb everything we put on them. Skip the plastic. Use a simple, stainless steel safety razor, no strips, no colourants, no microplastics. Lather with something your great-grandmother might’ve used...olive oil soap, Aleppo soap, or just plain coconut oil. And after shaving, let the skin rest, or soothe it with tallow balm, shea butter, or raw calendula oil.  Pads & tampons The vaginal canal is one of the most sensitive and absorptive places in the female body. And yet, it’s where we insert bleached cotton, synthetic fragrance, super-absorbent polymers, and pesticide-laced fibre, month after month. Anything inserted into the vaginal canal bypasses the liver and goes straight to systemic circulation. That makes it more absorbent than your stomach. Most tampons and pads are treated like sterile medical products. But they’re not. Cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Chlorine bleaching produces dioxins, which can disrupt the endocrine system. “Fragrance” can legally contain hundreds of unnamed chemicals. Plastic linings block airflow. Synthetic materials disrupt vaginal flora. And all of this happens while your body is already working hard to release, because bleeding is a natural detox process. A time when the body clears what it no longer needs.A better way to bleed If you can, use organic, unbleached cotton pads or tampons, free from pesticides, fragrance, and chlorine-based bleach. Or try cloth pads made from natural fleece or wool backing. And if that feels like too big a leap? Even just swapping from scented to unscented is a powerful first step. Small changes add up. Many women notice shorter, lighter, less painful periods when they make the switch to natural fibres. Whether it’s the reduced chemical load, a drop in inflammation, or simply the body exhaling in relief, something shifts. You feel it. A little less resistance. A little more ease. Why this matters so much  All of these areas are hormonal centres, home to dense clusters of lymphatic tissue... the axillary nodes under the arms, the inguinal nodes at the groin, the mammary lymphatics around the chest, each part of a vital system responsible for filtering waste, regulating immune function, metabolising hormones. The lymphatic system has no pump It doesn’t circulate with force like the heart does with blood. It moves slowly, gently, through breath, muscle movement, gravity... and what we apply to the skin. Especially in these high-absorption zones. Hormones rely on lymph to clear. Steroid hormones like estrogen and progesterone are processed in the liver,  but they’re moved out through the lymph. If that flow slows down, hormones linger. They recirculate in their more potent, unbound forms. This is how estrogen dominance begins, not in the ovaries, but in stagnant lymph. Symptoms follow... breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, heavy periods. The body whispers first. Then it starts shouting. Endocrine disruptors are easily absorbed via skin Many of the chemicals found in razors, deodorants, shaving creams and period products, are classified as xenoestrogens. These are synthetic compounds that mimic or interfere with natural estrogen activity. What’s applied in microdoses becomes a macro pattern. Not one product, but layers. Daily. It’s at best mildly annoying, and at worst very damaging, how the female version of everything is the same tool...painted pastel, scented with synthetic florals, marked up, and made more toxic. We're sold femininity through fragrance and care through chemicals. But real care feels like olive oil on bare skin. Cotton that breathes. Tallow that melts into your body. Simple, whole ingredients. The kind your great grandmother knew and the kind that don’t need a label to convince you they’re safe, because your body already recognises them. And when you begin to swap the synthetics for the natural you don’t just get cleaner skin, calmer hormones, or fewer irritations (though you will). You genuinely begin to feel more connected and feminine, not in a way it's sold to us but a femininity that emerges from deep health.

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Razor blades have ingredients now? (A guide to hormone friendly shaving)

August 01, 2025

Razor blades have ingredients now? (A guide to hormone friendly shaving)

You might be surprised to learn that modern razor blades come with ingredient lists. What used to be simple metal blades now feature "lubrication strips" and "moisturising gels" that promise a closer, more comfortable shave. The catch? Many of these ingredients aren't as skin-friendly as the marketing suggests. These strips and gels often contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances, substances that research increasingly links to endocrine disruption. Here's why this matters more than you might think: Most of us shave regularly, whether it's our face, legs, underarms, or other sensitive areas. When you shave, you create tiny micro-abrasions in your skin. While these are completely normal, they do increase your skin's absorption of whatever products you're using. Add warm water (which opens your pores even more), and your skin becomes particularly receptive to absorbing chemicals. The good news is that effective, natural shaving solutions have existed for centuries, long before we had access to these synthetic ingredients. What to look for in your shaving products Your razor Modern cartridge razors often contain ingredients like polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, artificial dyes, and various synthetic polymers in their lubrication strips. These chemicals are designed to reduce friction, but they come with potential health concerns. Instead, consider switching to a safety razor made from simple stainless steel with no added strips or gels. Many brands now offer multi-blade safety razors if you prefer that close shave without the chemical additions. Shaving cream or foam Traditional shaving products typically contain sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial fragrances (listed as "parfum"), methylisothiazolinone, and other preservatives. While these create that familiar thick foam, they can be harsh on your skin and potentially disruptive to your hormonal balance. Natural alternatives work just as effectively. Aleppo soap (made from olive oil and laurel oil) or simple olive oil soap create a rich, protective lather. For body shaving you can also use coconut oil which provides excellent lubrication and has natural antimicrobial properties that can help prevent irritation and ingrown hairs. Aftercare products Aftershave balms, lotions, and fragrances often contain benzyl salicylate, limonene, and other fragrance compounds. These ingredients are increasingly being studied for their potential hormone-disrupting effects. It is best to drop these altogether and rock the smells of shea butter or tallow balm. A simple, natural shaving routine Here's how to create a hormone-friendly shaving experience: Start with filtered water for a cleaner shave Use your safety razor or any razor without chemical strips Create a lather with Aleppo soap, olive oil soap, or apply coconut oil directly to the skin Shave as usual, taking your time to avoid irritation Moisturise afterward with natural options like shea butter or grass-fed tallow, which soothe and heal the skin naturally This approach works whether you're shaving your face, legs, underarms, or any other area. The natural ingredients are gentle enough for sensitive skin while still providing the glide and protection you need for a comfortable shave. The result is a shaving routine that's kind to your skin, doesn't interfere with your hormonal balance, and often feels more luxurious than conventional products. Many people find that natural shaving products actually reduce irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hairs compared to their chemical-laden counterparts. Making this switch is also better for your wallet and the environment, these natural products tend to last longer and come with less packaging waste. Your skin and overall health will benefit from choosing products that work with your body's natural processes rather than against them. Happy shaving!

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6 worst things about supermarket food

July 30, 2025

6 worst things about supermarket food

You walk in for eggs. Maybe some butter. But within minutes, you’re weaving through aisles lined with harsh lighting, glossy labels, and “healthy” claims. The truth is, most supermarket food isn’t designed to feed you. It’s designed to last. To ship well. To look appealing on a shelf and cost as little as possible to produce. Here are 6 reasons supermarket food is leaving you depleted (and what to do instead)... 1. It’s made to last, not nourish Most supermarket food is grown, picked, processed, and packaged for one purpose… survival on a shelf. Modified atmospheres, wax coatings, anti-browning agents, ionising radiation, these keep produce “fresh” in appearance while nutrients quietly fade. Take carrots. The ones sealed in plastic bags, pre-washed and trimmed to uniform size. They might’ve been pulled from the earth weeks ago. Scrubbed. Chlorine-rinsed. Stripped of their soil. Still crunchy, sure, but most of the beta-carotene has oxidised, the enzymes long gone, the soil memory erased. But they still look perfect in their plastic shroud.  Buy local, seasonal, and organic when possible. Even imperfect fruit from a market stall is more vibrant (and flavourful) than jet-lagged blueberries in February. 2. Seed oils lurk in almost everything Hummus. Pesto. Mayo. Dips. Crackers. Granola. Even sourdough. The supermarket is drenched in seed oils, often hidden under unassuming names like rapeseed, sunflower, or just vegetable oil. They’re cheap to produce, long-lasting on shelves, and devastating for the human body. High in omega-6 PUFAs, easily oxidised, and deeply inflammatory, they burden the liver, disrupt hormone function, and embed into cell membranes where they stay, for months. But seed oils are only part of the problem.Products that rely on them are often ultra-processed in other ways too…stabilisers, preservatives, synthetic flavours, gums. When you ditch the seed oils, you also sidestep the long list of lab additives that come along for the ride. Read your labels. Opt for foods made with butter, olive oil, ghee, or tallow. And if you’re reaching for mayo or salad dressing, consider making your own.  3. Factory-farmed meat is the norm The truth is, most supermarket meat comes from animals that were never truly well.Raised in crowded sheds, fed inflammatory grains, and routinely given antibiotics to survive conditions no animal should endure. And that metabolic sickness doesn’t stay in the barn. It carries through to you. You get the wrong kind of fat (high in omega-6, low in CLA), lower levels of CoQ10, and a fraction of the fat-soluble vitamins your body needs to thrive. Not to mention the quiet stress chemistry of an animal raised in fear. Whenever possible, choose meat from animals that lived well,  pasture-raised, grass-fed, regeneratively farmed. Build a relationship with a local butcher or small supplier. And don’t overlook the cheaper cuts...organs, bones, slow-cook joints. They’re not just more affordable,  they’re more nourishing, more mineral-rich, and more ancestrally aligned with how we’re meant to eat. True nourishment comes from animals who were nourished too. 4. It’s designed to make you overspend Nothing in the supermarket is accidental. Ultra-processed foods are placed at eye level, not because they’re good for you, but because they’re good for profit margins. End-of-aisle “deals” are often full of sugar, seed oils, and additives, packaged in reds and yellows because research shows these colours increase appetite and urgency. Even the so-called “health food” aisle is stocked with gluten-free cereals, vegan cheese puffs, and keto protein bars, all still ultra-processed, just with better branding. Go in with a plan. Shop the outer aisles where the real food lives...meat, butter, eggs, produce. Eat before you go. Bring a list. And if something catches your eye, flip it over. If the ingredient list is longer than a short paragraph or includes anything you wouldn’t cook with at home, leave it on the shelf. 5. Fortification is a band aid to cover nutrient void food Fortified. Enriched. With added B12, iron, folic acid, vitamin D... You’ve seen the labels. But here’s the truth. Fortification is not a sign of nutrient density, it’s a red flag that the food had none to begin with.  Modern industrial processing strips grains, dairy, and packaged foods of their natural nutrients. The solution? Synthetics. Man-made versions of vitamins and minerals are sprayed back in, often in isolated, hard-to-absorb forms that don’t work synergistically with the body. Folic acid (not folate), cyanocobalamin (a low-grade B12), and ferrous sulfate (an iron salt known to irritate the gut) are just a few examples. And these synthetic nutrients don’t act the same. They can build up, unabsorbed, triggering imbalances. Some are linked to worsened mental health, impaired methylation, and nutrient deficiencies when consumed in excess without real food cofactors. Meanwhile, truly nutrient-dense foods, liver, egg yolks, bone broth, raw milk, fermented vegetables don’t need fortifying. They’re already perfectly balanced, with bioavailable vitamins in the exact ratios your body recognises and uses. Eat food that doesn’t need a label to prove its worth. Prioritise real, whole ingredients. If something is “fortified,” ask yourself: what did they take out that now needs putting back in? And could you get that nutrient, in a better form, from real food instead? Fortification isn’t nourishment. It’s marketing. 6. It trains you to forget where food comes from There’s an intimate connection with food that humans have carried for millennia, one rooted in soil, season, and story. For thousands of years, we gathered, bartered, harvested, hunted. We walked the land that grew our food, knew which neighbour raised the chickens, and which field would yield the sweetest berries come summer. But in the past hundred years, barely a blink in human history, that relationship has been severed. We’ve been distanced from our food by fluorescent aisles, plastic wrap, and endless logistics. And in those same 100 years, food has quietly lost up to 75% of its nutrients. Over time, this changes something subtle but profound. You forget that food was once alive. That it was raised, grown, harvested, not manufactured. That nourishment is a relationship, not just a transaction. And when you forget where food comes from, you lose part of your instinct to care for it,  and for yourself. Eat close to the source. Choose real, whole foods. Learn the names of the people who grow what’s on your plate. And let the Organised App help guide you home, to farms near you, to seasonal eating, to the feeling of knowing where your food came from.  We were never meant to be strangers to our sustenance.

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Why eating an organ heals that same organ

July 25, 2025

Why eating an organ heals that same organ

One of the most fascinating things about eating organs is how eating them will help like for like. What do I mean by like for like? Well, by eating liver you help your liver, by eating heart you help your heart and so on… So that's what we'll be diving into today. Firstly, where does this notion of like helping like come from? We can trace that back to a few different ancient knowledge sources...Traditional Chinese medicine, Ancient Shamanic Wisdom, Native American traditions and in more modern times many naturopaths recommend like for like to improve organ and overall health. Even our grandparents remember having meals such as steak and kidney pie, stuffed heart, liver and onions which are so rare in most people’s diet these days (bring back the organ meals!). A lot of animals will also instinctively go for organ meat first before eating the muscle meat of the prey they have just killed, knowing that there's a lot more nutrients in the organ meat compared to muscle meat. But how does this actually work and what is the science behind it?  What are the cold hard facts? Since you're likely to want to know the science behind the nutrition advice and (not just go off ancient wisdom), we shall be focusing on the nutrients these organs supply when we eat them and how that relates to boosting the function of our organs in our bodies. Liver  Liver is exceptionally rich in vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12, folate), iron, copper and zinc. What does your liver need to work optimally? The same nutrients it stores... B-vitamins for methylation pathways, choline for fat processing and bile production, copper for enzyme function, vitamin A for protein synthesis. Your liver literally recognises these pre-formed, bioavailable nutrients and can immediately utilise them without conversion. A recipe to try... Liver pâté: Velvety smooth beef or lamb liver blended with caramelised onions, garlic, thyme, and then whipped with lots butter until creamy. Chilled and spreadable, it’s rich in iron and B vitamins, a decadent, nutrient-dense snack best served on toasted sourdough, cucumber slices or simply with some raw carrot sticks.  Heart Heart contains high levels of CoQ10, B vitamins, and quality protein. What does your heart need to work optimally? CoQ10 for cellular energy production in cardiac mitochondria, carnitine for fat metabolism (heart's preferred fuel), taurine for electrical conduction and rhythm regulation. Heart muscle has the highest CoQ10 concentration of any tissue. A recipe to try... Reindeer/Venison heart tartare: Finely chopped raw heart mixed with capers, shallots, Dijon mustard, and a splash of olive oil, then topped with a fresh egg yolk. The lean, iron-rich heart offers a clean, almost sweet flavour that shines when paired with tangy, punchy accents. Serve chilled with sourdough or rye crisps. Beef tongue & heart stew: Slow-braised chunks of buffalo tongue and heart cooked with root vegetables, garlic, and fire-roasted tomatoes. A splash of organic red wine and a pinch of rosemary bring depth, while long cooking ensures the tongue turns silky and the heart becomes tender and meaty. Hearty, grounding, and perfect for cold evenings. Kidney Kidneys provide B12, DAO enzyme, vitamin C, selenium, and riboflavin. What do your kidneys need to work optimally? B-vitamins for filtration processes, selenium for antioxidant protection against constant toxin exposure, balanced electrolytes for proper fluid regulation. The kidney's own mineral ratios mirror what human kidneys require for optimal filtration. A recipe 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. Lungs Iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, glutathione precursors, elastin, collagen. What do your lungs need to work optimally? Iron for oxygen-carrying capacity, vitamin A for respiratory epithelial cell regeneration, antioxidants to combat oxidative stress from breathing. Lung tissue provides the exact structural proteins your own lung repair mechanisms require. A recipe to try... 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. Spleen Iron, B12, immunoglobulins, vitamin C, heme compounds. What does your spleen need to work optimally? Iron for blood filtration and red blood cell recycling, B12 for proper immune cell production, the same immune factors it produces to support your body's defence systems. A recipe 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. Or if you want a recipes with them all... Nose-to-tail stew: A slow-cooked medley of beef cheeks, oxtail, tongue, liver, and heart, simmered with bone broth, carrots, celery, and warming spices. The mix of textures, tender, gelatinous, and meaty, creates a deeply satisfying, collagen-rich dish that honours the whole animal. Best enjoyed with mashed roots or crusty bread. Now this doesn't mean go out and consume unlimited amounts of organ meat... Organs are incredibly nutrient dense, so over consuming things like liver can lead to vitamin A toxicity (though you would really need to eat a lot). A small portion a day or a bigger serving once a week is perfect. Lastly, the quality of organ meat is incredibly important. Reaching for supermarket chicken liver isn't recommended, but instead getting 100% grass fed and finished cow or lamb organs. Taking a more food based approach to healing our health is the way forward. People are slowly turning away from the over consumption of synthetic supplements and prioritising their daily nutrition as well as including some superfoods, which organs most definitely are!  Adding organs to your diet is a great way to make sure you are getting enough nutrients. As you can see this has been known for thousands of years but very recently with the introduction of convenient processed food we’ve forgotten about organs and turned away from them, seeing them as waste parts instead of what they really are, nutrient dense superfoods. And if you really want to disguise the organs (without losing their nutritional value), we’ve put together some deliciously sneaky recipes below, perfect for getting all the benefits without the “offal” taste... Spicy Organ Burgers Animal Based Fruit Gummies Homemade Bounty Bars Beef Organ Cacao Mousse Chocolate Cherry (& Organ) Smoothie Hearty Venison Stew

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6 hidden toxins in your morning routine

July 23, 2025

6 hidden toxins in your morning routine

Your morning routine is sacred. You rise early. You shower. You nourish. You caffeinate. You start your day with the best intentions. But in the quiet details of your morning, the modern world has laced even your routine with quiet disruptors, chemicals, plastics, stimulants, that slowly unravel your system over time. You don’t feel it right away. But the fatigue creeps in. The skin dulls. Hormones dip. Here are the 6 everyday offenders. Not to scare you, but to offer better ways to begin... 1. Toothpaste Toothpaste is one of those things we use on autopilot, twice a day, every day. Usually without question. But most mainstream brands still use a cocktail of chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), triclosan, artificial sweeteners (like saccharin), microplastics, and fluoride.  These ingredients can inflame the gums, damage the oral microbiome, and disrupt thyroid function, especially fluoride, which competes with iodine, a mineral essential for hormone health. Some of the most powerful oral care ingredients have been hiding in plain sight for centuries...Eggshell powder is a natural source of hydroxyapatite, the very mineral that makes up our enamel. Rich in bioavailable calcium and trace minerals, it’s been used since the time of the Ancient Egyptians (yes, the original inventors of toothpaste), to polish teeth and restore strength to enamel. Diatomaceous earth detoxifies fluoride, aluminium, and heavy metals from the body, thanks to its rich silica content, a mineral your teeth, bones, and ligaments all rely on. It also naturally helps to scrub away plaque and discolouration, without stripping your enamel. Or even just simple baking soda works by gently whitening teeth over time and helping maintain an alkaline pH that keeps harmful bacteria in check.Look for a paste that includes some of these ancestral ingredients. Your oral microbiome is an extension of your gut, and your toothpaste should be part of your healing toolkit, not something that disrupts it. 2. Takeaway coffee cups We get it, no one loves hauling around a reusable cup after the caffeine’s done its job. It rolls around in your bag, starts to smell questionable by midday, and on a bad day, leaks milk into your notebook. But the alternative is sadly worse. Most disposable cups are lined with polyethylene (a type of plastic) to make them waterproof, and the lids are typically made from polystyrene or polypropylene, plastics known to leach chemicals when exposed to heat. When hot liquid (like coffee or tea) comes into contact with these materials, it accelerates the release of endocrine disruptors like BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalates. These compounds mimic hormones in the body, binding to receptors and throwing off natural signalling. Over time, this can lead to: • Disrupted estrogen/testosterone balance • Thyroid dysfunction (BPA competes with thyroid receptors) • Liver burden (the liver has to process and detoxify these compounds) • Sluggish detox pathways (phthalates reduce glutathione activity, your master detox molecule) • Increased fat storage and insulin resistance (linked to BPA's effects on metabolic regulation) Use a cup made from ceramic (may be a fun date or family activity to make one yourself) or stainless steel. If you’re out and about, try waiting until you’re somewhere you can sip slowly, with both hands and no plastic lid between you and the ritual. And if you’re just stopping by your local cafe on a leisurely Sunday, bring back the art of just taking your favourite mug to the coffee shop. You might look like you just rolled out of bed, but if we all start doing it no one will bat an eyelid. 3. Deodorant Antiperspirants are designed to stop you from sweating. But sweat is one of the body’s oldest, most natural detox channels, a way to offload excess heat, waste, and toxins. When you block it, and simultaneously introduce aluminium, parabens, and triclosan, you disrupt lymphatic flow and potentially feed toxins back into the surrounding tissue, especially the breast and glands. The axillary lymph nodes, roughly 20 to 40 in each armpit, are some of the most densely clustered in the body. They drain lymph from the arms, breasts, and upper chest. Which means that when you swipe a synthetic stick directly over this hub (especially one laced with aluminium or synthetic fragrance), you’re coating one of your key detox gateways in chemicals your body then has to process. Lymph nodes are designed to detect and respond to what’s in the surrounding fluid,  good or bad. But their absorbency also makes them vulnerable. Aluminium and parabens, in particular, have been shown to mimic estrogen in the body, binding to hormone receptors and disrupting delicate hormonal rhythms. For women especially, this can lead to symptoms like breast tenderness, irregular cycles, PMS, and heightened estrogen dominance. In men, it may interfere with testosterone balance and sperm quality. Let your lymph breathe. Use deodorants made from magnesium, baking soda, coconut oil, arrowroot, or clays, or go without now and then to allow your armpit microbiome to recalibrate.Also remember…body odour is natural, but it shouldn’t be overpowering. Sweat itself is nearly scentless, mostly water and electrolytes. It’s only when your detox organs (especially the liver, kidneys, and gut) are under strain that the smell sharpens. Support clean sweat. Move daily, even 20 minutes of walking or stretching to the point of a light sweat helps clear built-up waste. And clean up your fats… industrial seed oils only add to the body’s toxic burden. Prioritise butter, ghee, tallow, and olive oil instead.  4. Your “healthy” breakfast cereal Seed oils are one of the last hidden disruptors still clinging to wellness labels. Even the “clean” granola,  the ones in glass jars with otherwise nourishing ingredients, often slip in sunflower or rapeseed oil. It doesn’t take much, just a drizzle to bind the oats and crisp the clusters. But under heat, these fragile oils oxidise quickly, creating compounds that quietly inflame the gut, burden the liver, and throw off hormones. Many granolas also rely on oats that are unsprouted and sprayed with glyphosate,  a known endocrine disruptor. Without proper soaking or fermentation, these grains can irritate the gut lining and impair mineral absorption  more than their rustic packaging lets on. Start your day with saturated fats and protein, think eggs, grass-fed sausage, liver pâté, bone broth, or even leftover dinner. Or if you, like me,  crave something sweet and spoonable in the morning,  try full-fat Greek or raw yoghurt with seasonal fruit. For that satisfying crunch, sprinkle in cacao nibs or bee pollen, both packed with antioxidants and minerals, without the inflammatory load. 5. Scrolling your phone before sunlight  This might not sound like a “toxin”,  but artificial blue light and stress-inducing content are arguably just as disruptive as any chemical. Your body is designed to sync to natural light cycles. Morning sunlight enters the eyes and signals to your supra chiasmatic nucleus (your master clock) that it’s time to suppress melatonin and raise cortisol, our get-up-and-go hormone. When you scroll your phone instead, your eyes are flooded with blue light at the wrong spectrum and intensity, with no grounding counterbalance from full-spectrum sunlight. Your brain thinks it’s midday. But your body is still in sleep mode. Cortisol rises at the wrong time. Melatonin doesn’t shut off. The whole day feels off…  foggy head, low mood, irregular hunger. Reclaim your mornings. Step outside within 30 minutes of waking, no sunglasses, no screen. Just 5–10 minutes of natural light helps regulate everything from energy to hormones to sleep later that night. Make it a little rule that you can’t go on your phone before your eyes have had a proper chance to see sunlight, and your feet have grounded in the earth. 6. Tap water You roll out of bed and reach for a glass of water, a simple, noble act. But in the UK and US, that tap water often carries chlorine, fluoride, microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and heavy metals. Municipal water is tested for individual toxins, but not for the cumulative effects of all of them together, nor for how they interact with the body over decades.  The microbiome, liver, and thyroid are especially sensitive to chronic, low-grade exposure, something the standard “safety” limits don’t fully capture.  A hidden issue in the UK? Ageing infrastructure. Many British homes still rely on copper piping, and when water sits in those pipes overnight, it can draw trace amounts of copper into your supply. In small amounts, copper is essential. In excess, it becomes pro-inflammatory. Copper and zinc compete for absorption in the body. So elevated copper can lead to symptoms of functional zinc deficiency… poor wound healing, increased inflammation, brain fog, anxiety, low immunity, and even hormonal imbalance. For women in particular, excess copper can fuel estrogen dominance,  a driver of PMS, skin issues, mood swings, and heavy or irregular periods. If it’s within reach, a high-quality water filter is a brilliant long-term investment in your health. But if not, there are still good options… buy still spring water in glass bottles, or, our personal favourite, find a local spring. And don’t forget about raw milk, which offers not only hydration but also electrolytes, enzymes, and bioavailable minerals. It really is nature’s own mineral drink (and such a satisfying one to have first thing in the morning). Then in the winter, swap it out for a soothing morning glass of bone broth instead. And if you’re reading this thinking, “I use all of these,” please don’t panic... The last thing we want to do is fear monger (there's enough of that already in the health space). Overhauling your routine doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t need to. Every subtle shift is a step toward less burden and more balance. Start with what feels easiest. Swap one product. Question one label. Support one system. Your body will meet you there. Wishing you a calm, clear, and beautiful day ahead.

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