This Endolife

Okay so this episode is an exciting one, well at least for me, being a blood sugar and gut health geek.Today I am talking to Gargi Parikh. Gargi is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator, herbalist, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in nutrition. She specializes in diabetes and gut health and takes a functional root cause approach to health helping clients health from the inside out. In today’s episode Gargi and I are talking about the profound effect gut health can have on blood sugar, and vice versa! So many of my clients struggle with gut dysbiosis, SIBO, gut inflammation and blood sugar imbalances, and so I think tying the two together is going to be really helpful for many of you. We discuss: The impact of blood sugar dysregulation on inflammation and hormones. The connection between gut health and blood sugar and why gut health is important to balancing blood sugar. Whether SIBO in particular can have an effect on blood sugar and why. How to begin supporting

Today’s episode we have some returning guests, my friends and co-founders of Semaine, Lauren and Catherine Lee! If you haven’t listened to my first episode with them, I really recommend you check that episode out to hear their endometriosis stories and all about founding supplement company, Semaine. But let’s do a quick recap for those of you who aren’t familiar…Catherine and Lauren started Semaine Health several years ago to address period pain and hormonal imbalances with plant-based, science-backed supplements.  After decades of painful periods and suffering from stage II and stage IV endometriosis, Catherine and Lauren created the solution they were looking for: a plant-based anti-inflammatory supplement to help lessen their pain while supporting their overall health. Cath and Lar are driven by the desire to empower other women who have experienced pain and discomfort, who are looking for answers rather than being dismissed or told their symptoms are normal.  In this episode, we’re talking about one of th

Today on the show I have the pleasure of speaking with Lux Perry.Lux Perry is the Co-founder of somedays and if you aren’t familiar with the brand, I really recommend you check them out. somedays provides natural period pain relief products that are backed by science. Their mission is to de-normalise period pain and to empower people to transform their relationship to pain and take control of their body.Lux lived with unexplained chronic pain and horrific periods since they were nine years old, and like many of us, spent years and years being dismissed. Their experience with pain, their endo diagnosis and their personal journey with their body, led them to co-found somedays with Cassandra Naud and Annabelle Price back in 2021, and they’ve been lighting the period care world on fire ever since!In this episode Lux and I are talking about one of my favourite topics that I don’t usually get to share here – running a business with a chronic illness.We discuss: Lux’s story and their motivation behind somedays. The

Today on the show we are talking to the incredible force of nature that is Dr. Lj Johnson.Dr. Johnson IHP. FDN-P. IIN, CHEK, is a women’s hormone coach specialising in endometriosis. Lj has worked in the women's health and fitness industry for over 20 years while overcoming her own diagnosis of endometriosis. Lj’s passion is to empower, motivate and educate all women so they too can have quality of life despite their symptoms or diagnosis – and after hearing her story, I think you’ll all understand why!In today’s episode Lj and I are talking all about endo burnout and how to overcome it.In the interview we cover: Lj’s personal story with endo. What endo burnout actually is and what symptoms to look out for. What causes endo burnout. The methods Lj uses to help people recover. Where Lj suggests to start with healing endo burnout if you’re not working with a practitioner.  Show NotesLj’s websiteLj’s InstagramLj’s podcastThis episode is sponsored by Semaine. Semaine is a plant-based supplement for reducing perio

The last in my IG Live in my Endo Awareness Month Series! This final Q&A was all about the endo belly and gut health with endometriosis. I got so many questions and I tried to answer as many as I could.Today I’m answering your questions… Is core muscle dysfunction a reason for bloating? Why is endo belly still happening after total hysterectomy? What to do if you can’t get SIBO to a manageable level (I’ve tried everything)? Do you have any must dos for managing endo and SIBO? How to tame SIBO? Why is my endo belly constant no matter what I eat? Why do I only get bloated with carbs? Why am I still so bloated even though I take supplements/work out and lead a healthy lifestyle? I really hope you find this episode useful!This episode is sponsored by Semaine. Semaine is a plant-based supplement for reducing period pain and inflammation, that you take for 7 days of your cycle, during your period. Semaine is made up of 9 super-powered plant extracts and minerals that are all vegan and sourced for maximum qualit

The fourth in my IG Live in my Endo Awareness Month Series!I get a lot of great feedback from listeners when I share my IG Lives on the podcast, so I’m doing it again!Each week is themed on an area of healing with endo. This week we’re talking about how to recover from fatigue and brain fog with endo and some of the most common factors causing these symptoms.These IG Lives revolve around your questions, so if you want to submit one, follow me on Instagram @theendobellycoach and send me a question when you see my Stories calling for submissions.Today I’m answering your questions… How to explain to someone you aren’t lazy, you’re fatigued - but to do it in a friendly and assertive way? Does brain fog and fatigue cause low motivation levels? Tips for working a 9-5 office job when recovering from HPA axis dysfunction? How to help support the mitochondria? If you want to learn more about how to recover from fatigue and brain fog, I teach the exact steps inside my course Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations C

This is the third in my IG Live series for Endometriosis Awareness Month. I get a lot of great feedback from listeners when I share my IG Lives on the podcast, so I’m doing it again!Each week is themed on an area of healing with endo, and this week we’re talking about structural problems and pain signals. Structural issues like adhesions can affect not just pain but symptoms such as endo belly and urinary frequency or even difficulty emptying the bladder, so addressing this is a crucial part of healing.These IG Lives revolve around your questions, so if you want to submit one, follow me on Instagram @theendobellycoach and send me a question when you see my Stories calling for submissions.This week I’m answering… What’s causing painful sex after excision surgery? If it’s adhesions, what can we do? How do endo-related adhesions cause SIBO? What range of symptoms can adhesions on the bowel cause? Is there a way to assess your own pelvic floor? If you want to learn more about how structural support fits into a he

This is the second in my IG Live series for Endometriosis Awareness Month. I get a lot of great feedback from listeners when I share my IG Lives on the podcast, so I’m doing it again!Each week is themed on an area of healing with endo, and this week we’re talking about endo, blood sugar and hormone balance.These IG Lives revolve around your questions, so if you want to submit one, follow me on Instagram @theendobellycoach and send me a question when you see my Stories calling for submissions.This week I’m answering… Do blood sugar levels change dependent on the stage of the menstrual cycle? How do fluctuating blood sugar levels impact food cravings throughout the cycle? How does blood sugar affect sex hormones? How to solve PCOS acne? If you want to learn more about how blood sugar fits into a healing plan for endo, join my free Endo Awareness Month Masterclass - The Five Key Pillars of Healing: How to Lower Endo Symptoms and Take Back Control Without the Overwhelm.This two-hour masterclass will take you thro

This is the first in my IG Live series for Endometriosis Awareness Month. I get a lot of great feedback from listeners when I share my IG Lives on the podcast, so I’m doing it again! Each week is themed on an area of healing with endo, and this week we’re talking about inflammation and the immune system.These IG Lives revolve around your questions, so if you want to submit one, follow me on Instagram @theendobellycoach and send me a question when you see my Stories calling for submissions. This week I’m answering… How can I make the elimination diet easier when socialising or eating with others? How much freeze dried nettle is effective for MCAS? How much magnesium is helpful for endo and which type? How much omega 3 fatty acids should we use for endo? What are macrophages and what role do they play in endo? What role do prostaglandins play on endometriosis pain and development? Show Notes & ReferencesThis episode is sponsored by Semaine. Semaine is a plant-based supplement for reducing period pain and in

This is the wrap up week of the Ease Endo Tea Challenge.So, how did you find the tea challenge? Hopefully, you've experienced some changes - or your period/endo pain wasn't as bad as you thought it might be following the festive season!Don't worry if you don't feel dramatic change yet - remember, this was all about dipping your toe in and giving you easy, quick tools to get started with and steady consistency, even with habits as small as tea, is when we'll start to notice changes.Okay so now you've tried all the teas, here's how you might want to use them moving forward:Menstruation: Nettle tea and gingerMenstruation is the time when inflammation and histamines are going to be high, and iron is going to be low. The ginger will address the pain and inflammation, whilst the nettle will replenish iron loss and also lower any histamines contributing to pain.Follicular: DandelionThis is the phase when our oestrogen is building, and whilst we do want a lovely healthy amount of oestrogen, we want to be clearing it

This is week three of our Ease Endo Tea Challenge. If you’d like to receive a copy of each week’s challenge with all the references, research, doses and info, sign up to the challenge via email. I’ve linked to the sign-up page in my show notes. You can also hop over to Instagram and comment, ask questions or share pics of your challenge so far.This week, we're easing histamine levels, and as a result, pain and inflammation!The SymptomDid you know that histamine is involved in growth and inflammation of endometriosis? Mast cells, the immune cells which release histamines, have been found in high levels within and around endometriosis lesions - and the research shows that the higher the number, the more intense the pain.The involvement of mast cells and histamines is so integral to the growth and symptoms of endometriosis, that researchers are now calling for mast cell focused immune treatments for endo.Additionally, histamines are involved in both menstruation and ovulation. Their inflammatory nature helps wit

Okay so this is week three of our Ease Endo Tea Challenge. Remember, if you’d like to receive a copy of each week’s challenge with all the references, research, doses and info, sign up to the challenge via email. I’ve linked to the sign-up page in my show notes. You can also hop over to Instagram and comment, ask questions or share pics of your challenge so far.This week, we're easing the endo belly!Did you know the endo belly might not be just caused by endometriosis?In fact, it's most likely not!Whilst the inflammation from endometriosis can definitely cause the endo belly at certain times of your cycle or make it worse, there are other contributing factors. Fluctuating hormones can be a cause - progesterone in the second half of your cycle slows gut motility down, leading to more accumulation of gas and waste in your intestines, which might create some bloating. The changes in oestrogen and progesterone in the second half of your cycle can contribute to water retention and bloating, and are worse when horm

Okay so this is week two of our Ease Endo Tea Challenge. Remember, if you’d like to receive a copy of each week’s challenge with all the references, research, doses and info, sign up to the challenge via email. I’ve linked to the sign-up page in my show notes. You can also hop over to Instagram and comment, ask questions or share pics of your challenge so far.This week, we’re supporting the liver, which in turn, will help support our hormones.Did you know the liver plays a crucial role in balancing our levels of oestrogen?Once we've used up our oestrogen for the day, it's sent to the liver to package it up and get it ready for removal. It's then sent to the gut and leaves us through daily bowel movements. BUT, in this day and age, the liver is often overburdened with more important waste like sugar, caffeine, medication, pollutants, toxins from beauty and body products, smoking, alcohol, etc.When it has these guys to also clean out, it will put oestrogen to the back of the queue because these are more harmful

January can often be the hardest time for those of us with endometriosis. The joys and delights of December for many menstruators can cause hormonal issues come January, and for those of us with endometriosis, it can be even more problematic.Instead of diving in headfirst with a hard-core challenge, I'd prefer to offer you some solutions that are gentle on the body, mind and spirit - because honestly, I think it's unsustainable for us to have to jump into a completely new health routine as soon as the clock strikes 12 on the 1st.Especially if we're feeling unwell with flared endo symptoms, in the dead of winter, when the human body still wants to take it slow and gentle.So, two weeks ago I launched my Ease Endo Tea Challenge. I did it last year, and almost 300 people joined and experienced symptom improvement with the teas I shared with the group. This year I’m bringing it back, and initially began running it as I usually do, via email, but as I was putting the emails together, I was just thinking how useful

In today’s episode, I’m interviewing Stefan Chmelik, inventor of Sensate, Integrated Healthcare Physician, author, teacher and founder of the New Medicine Group in Harley Street, London.In this episode, Stefan and I are talking about the vagus nerve and the nervous system, and how together, they work to support our health - and how when they’re not working properly, they can impact or even trigger certain conditions.In today’s episode we discuss - What is the vagus nerve and what is its role in the body?  How does the vagus nerve regulate our stress response?  Can the vagus nerve become damaged or impaired and what effect does this have on the body? What is heart rate variability and how can we use this to understand our vagus nerve health?  How can we improve the health of our vagus nerve and can Sensate aid with this? Can Sensate improve symptoms of endo/associated conditions such as accelerated heart rate, palpitations, gut health problems, anxiety and chronic pain?  What would be the most effective way to

Whilst like many people, I’m a bit over the whole ‘new year, new me’ message, I do like to start the year feeling well and focused. Now that does look a little bit different for me versus what you’d expect for January. I actually don’t love the whole drinking cold smoothies, juice cleansing and going out for early morning jobs in Jan. I don’t believe that’s what my body wants. It’s always felt quite jarring for me, that we’re yanked from the dead of winter into a routine that is better suited to spring. Instead, I like to take January as slowly as is possible in a fast paced world. I focus on warming, nourishing foods, as much rest as I can fit in, and movement that feels good to my body - which tends to be yoga and pilates right now.However, I know personally how all of your best efforts can be thrown out the window if fatigue and brain fog are affecting you, and whether you’re someone like me, who prefers to ease your way into the new year, or whether you’re a new year bunny, charging full steam ahead, I’m

So today’s episode is a replay whilst I record with my next batch of exciting guests! But I actually think this replay is necessary…This podcast episode isn’t very old, it only came out in June 2022, but this time of year is full of messages about health, wellness, goals, resolutions, etc. and whilst I of course encourage healthy habits and lifestyle changes, doing this sustainably and in a way that we enjoy and that fits our lives is important. If we try to do everything all at once and hold ourselves to extreme standards, we’re going to burn out and feel pretty rubbish about ourselves when we can’t keep it all up because we’re exhausted or they weren’t realistic to start with.If you have ideas of changing up your experience of endo in 2023, then I am fully in support of that, but I want you to go into it knowing you don’t have to do it perfectly and you don’t have to do it all at once and that’s why I’m resharing this episode today.Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.M

On today’s episode, I’m speaking with my friend and colleague, Kat Smith!Kat was diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis in 2009 and after years of decisions being made for her, took ownership of her own health by training as a nutritional therapist. Kat is a Lifecode Gx registered nutrigenomics practitioner who specialises in DNA testing. Kat's passion is empowering women with the mindset and nervous system tools to confront their trauma, which she believes is the missing piece in endometriosis management.In today’s episode, Kat and I are talking about how she uses genetic testing to help people with endo focus on their priority health areas with tailored and individual changes.In this episode we discuss: What DNA testing for endo is and why Kat uses it. The areas of genetic testing Kat typically focuses on with endo clients. Examples of gene variations and how someone may adapt their endo care/approach to better support these. In this episode I use a lot of my own health examples so that Kat and I can demonst

In this episode, mindfulness teacher Kate McGoey takes us through a calming meditation for endometriosis.Christmas was just a few days ago and New Year’s Eve is at the end of the week.Often, the stress, busyness and certain foods like a little extra chocolate or alcohol, can trigger pain flares. The festive period can be one of the hardest times to experience a pain flare, so today I’m resharing a meditation for pain by Kate McGoey.This meditation is short but sweet, and is actually taken from an IG live I did with Kate during Covid, so the sound quality might not be great, but the meditation is wonderful!Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.My cookbook This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast is out now! Get 28 anti-inflammatory, hormone friendly recipes for living and thriving with endometriosis. Order your copy here.If you feel like you need more support with managing endometriosis, you can join Your EndoLife Coaching Programme. A 1-to-1 three month health and life coac

Dr. Stephanie Harrod is a doctor of physical therapy specialising in women’s health - in particular, endometriosis. In her patients, she often sees endo alongside SIBO and interstitial cystitis, but also hypermobility/EDS and POTS.Stephanie saw these patterns in so many patients, that she began developing protocols to support people with endo not just with their pelvic health and pelvic pain, but with all of these co-conditions, that often have an impact on endo and overall health.In today’s episode, Stephanie and I talk about her personalised approach for managing POTS/dysatuonomia with endometriosis and how these strategies differ from typical POTS treatment to better support endometriosis.In this episode we discuss: How managing POTS with endo differs from managing POTS alone and why. How to effectively use salt for POTS and dysautonomia management. The types of exercises that are better suited for POTS and how we can adapt them for endo. The lifestyle modifications and tools we can use to manage the day t