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Hypermobility might have earned you a few “oohs” and “ahhs” growing up—maybe you could twist into strange positions or casually bend your thumb back to your forearm. But for many, it’s much more than just flexible joints. Hypermobility can influence everything from gut health to circulation, immune response, and even your sense of balance.

So let’s unravel this bendy mystery, look at what it really means, and talk about how to support a hypermobile body—without needing to become a contortionist yogi.

Is This You? Signs You Might Be Hypermobile

Everyone experiences hypermobility differently, and it can often show up in subtle ways that are easy to overlook. Some signs to keep an eye out for include:

• Your thumb can be bent back to touch your forearm (no, that’s not a universal party trick).

• Your knees or elbows extend backwards a little when straightened (this is called hyperextension).

• You experience poor posture or feel like standing upright is more effort than it should be.

• You often feel clumsy or struggle with coordination.

• Aches and pains are a regular part of your day.

• You have flat feet or trouble with foot stability.

• Your skin is stretchy or has a “velvety” texture.

• You’re prone to hernias, varicose veins, or even pelvic organ prolapse.

• Piezogenic papules – small, soft bumps that appear on the heels when standing, caused by fat herniating through connective tissue (see picture below)

• Frequent fatigue, headaches, and a need to lie down or rest often.

• Frequent headaches or migraines.

• You bruise easily or heal slowly from cuts and injuries.

• If several of these feel familiar, hypermobility might be a piece of your health puzzle.
• 

Hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

Now, let’s clear up a common confusion: hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) aren’t exactly the same.

• Hypermobility refers to joints that move beyond the normal range. This can be totally benign or part of a broader condition.

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of connective tissue disorders. The most common subtype, Hypermobile EDS (hEDS), includes joint hypermobility, but also often involves additional features like stretchy skin, chronic pain, frequent injuries, and systemic issues like digestive or immune challenges. The other types of EDS are considered to be rarer and are often connected with specific genetic mutations, whereas hEDS does not have a genetic testing option. It is one of the oldest known causes of bruising and bleeding, and it was described first by Hippocrates in 400 BC.

The difference? EDS, particularly hEDS, has more defined diagnostic criteria, it’s often familial and tends to present more extensively across different body systems.

If you’d like to explore the official diagnostic criteria, the Dysautonomia Support Network has a comprehensive guide here.

The Many Faces of Hypermobility

Hypermobility doesn’t always present the same way for everyone. Some people experience it more internally (such as digestive and reproductive health impacts), while others might deal with more vascular symptoms like varicose veins or POTs. Then there are those whose joints pop and click their way through the day, facing subluxations, dislocations, or even hernias and prolapses. And for many, inflammation is a key player, showing up as histamine issues, migraines, or autoimmune conditions.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of conditions often linked with hypermobility:

• POTs (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

• ADHD & ASD

• Lipoedema

• IBS & gut concerns

• Endometriosis

• Autoimmune conditions

• Migraines

• TMJ & dental issues

• Fatigue and sleep problems

• Dysautonomia

• Venous insufficiencies

In one study, 51% of neurodivergent individuals were hypermobile, compared to just 17.5% of neurotypical people. These overlapping conditions often come as a “package deal” thanks to shared root issues like immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation.

Photo by David Hofmann on Unsplash

What’s Going On Beneath the Surface?

Hypermobility is often viewed as a structural issue—joints that bend too far, ligaments that stretch too much—but that’s only part of the picture. Underneath it all, immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation are key drivers. And they don’t just influence joint laxity—they ripple through many systems in the body.

Chronic inflammation plays a central role not only in hypermobility but also in conditions that commonly appear alongside it—like endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, IBS, POTS, ADHD, and more. When the immune system is constantly switched “on,” it uses up valuable resources, contributing to fatigue and leaving the body more vulnerable to further dysfunction.

Gut, Glands, and Gut Feelings

Weakened connective tissue doesn’t stop at the joints—it affects internal structures too. In the gut, this can mean altered motility, leading to constipation, diarrhoea, or both. There’s also an increased risk of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and intestinal permeability (aka “leaky gut”), which can heighten food sensitivities and drive inflammation even further.

The nervous system often gets caught in the crossfire. Dysautonomia, a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, is common in hypermobility. It keeps the body stuck in sympathetic “fight or flight” mode—affecting digestion, hormone production, immune response, vascular function, and even emotional regulation. It’s like the body’s internal control panel is out of sync.

Structural Stress and Muscle Overload

When collagen—the body’s main structural protein—isn’t working optimally, ligaments can’t do their job properly. Joints become less stable, and muscles are left to pick up the slack. This muscle overcompensation means they’re often overworked and tight, leading to fatigue, stiffness, and a higher risk of injury.

Nearby nerves may also become pinched or overstretched near unstable joints, contributing to chronic pain or sensitivity. Over time, this can lead to altered pain responses—where the body becomes hypersensitive even to minor stimuli.

Hormones and Histamine

It’s not just joints and nerves—internal organ health can also be affected. Lax pelvic ligaments may result in the uterus sitting differently, contributing to pelvic pain, overactive pelvic floor muscles, or prolapse. On top of that, many hypermobile individuals experience increased histamine levels, which can worsen period pain, fuel endometriosis, and further fan the flames of inflammation and immune dysregulation.

Blood Flow and Brain Fog

When blood vessels are stretchy too (as they often are in hypermobility), they may not efficiently send blood back to the brain and upper body. This can lead to orthostatic intolerance and POTS symptoms—things like dizziness, racing heart, heavy legs, tingling, brain fog, and even anxiety. And because the body interprets these blood flow issues as stress, it can perpetuate the sympathetic nervous system loop, feeding into fatigue, inflammation, and emotional overwhelm.

The Viral Connection

Interestingly, certain viral infections like COVID-19 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can worsen hypermobility-related symptoms. These viruses can increase inflammation, unbalance the immune system, and act as triggers or amplifiers for symptoms that were previously manageable.

Support Strategies for Hypermobility

While it’s not always possible to “fix” hypermobility, there are powerful ways to support your body and improve quality of life, these are a few of them:

• Strength Training: Carefully guided resistance training can help stabilize joints, improve proprioception, and reduce the risk of injury.

• Adequate Protein: Essential for tissue repair, strength, and energy. Adequate protein also helps with blood sugar level stability, an important factor for those with hypermobility.

• Mineral Balance: Key minerals like magnesium, calcium, and zinc support nervous system regulation and muscle health. We can assess mineral status through a HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) and also look into your diet to assess for potential gaps.

• Gut Health: Focus on restoring the gut lining and supporting a healthy microbiome to reduce inflammation and improve nutrient absorption.

• Nervous System Support: Practices like mindfulness, breathwork, and even vagal nerve stimulation can help reduce stress, improve digestion, and support immune balance.

Let’s Work Together

If you’ve been nodding along and thinking, “This is me!”—we’re here to help. Whether you’re newly exploring hypermobility or have been managing symptoms for years, working with a practitioner who understands the full picture can make all the difference.

Get in touch today to book a consultation. Let’s build a plan that’s tailored to your unique body and needs.

Because living in a bendy body shouldn’t mean bending over backwards to feel good.

References

1. Caliogna, L., Guerrieri, V., Annunziata, S., Gagliardi, F., Sessa, F., & De Caro, R. (2021). Biomarkers for Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: Is there a role? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(18), 10138. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221810138
2. Castori, M., Camerota, F., Celletti, C., Danese, C., Santilli, V., & Grammatico, P. (2015). Neurological manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome(s): A review. Iranian Journal of Neurology, 13(4), 190–208. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4300794/
3. Castori, M., & Voermans, N. C. (2023). Pain in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A non-diagnostic disabling symptom. Diagnostics, 13(8), 1443. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13081443
4. Chopra, P., Tinkle, B., Hamonet, C., Brock, I., Gompel, A., Bulbena, A., & Francomano, C. (2017). Pain management in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics, 175(1), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31555
5. Eccles, J. A., Owens, A. P., Mathias, C. J., Umeda, S., & Critchley, H. D. (2022). Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 797165. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.797165
6. Glans, M., Bejerot, S., & Li, X. (2021). Association between adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and generalised joint hypermobility: A cross-sectional case control comparison. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 143, 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.006
7. Kanjwal, K., Saeed, B., Karabin, B., Kanjwal, Y., Grubb, B. P., & Karabin, B. (2023). Dysautonomia, hypermobility spectrum disorders and mast cell activation syndrome: A review of overlapping conditions. Frontiers in Neurology, 14, 1458385. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1458385
8. Wang, E., Ganti, T., Vaou, E., & Hohler, A. (2021). The relationship between mast cell activation syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 42(3), 243–246. https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2021.42.210034

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Does your child need more zinc?

In my clinic, one of the minerals that I see a lot of kids needing more of is zinc. This mineral has a big role to play in keeping a little body healthy, however not every child is getting enough. While severe deficiency is rare, it’s thought that mild-moderate deficiency is common, one third of our population have inadequate levels.

According to WHO, zinc deficiency is responsible for approximately 16% of lower respiratory tract infections, 18% of malaria and 10% of diarrhoeal disease worldwide.

If our levels of certain minerals are not ideal this can be a factor in many health issues. For zinc, this is an important one, especially in children.

Here is a common scenario that I see in clinic:

Little Johnny, 5 years old is brought in to see me by his concerned Mummy and Daddy. From taking his case history I find that Johnny has been getting sick almost every month, he refuses to eat anything other than chicken, chips, rice and lollies and generally has a low appetite. His skin is red and irritated, his nails are peeling, he is hot headed and has difficulty focusing (less than one would expect for a 5 year old, anyway).

Have you guessed what I think Johnny needs more of? Zinc!

Zinc has a lot of functions in the body, and many of Johnny’s complaints can be attributed to these.

• It is important for taste perception. Low levels of zinc cause fussy eating, dislike of foods which aren’t strongly sweet or salty, and causes a low appetite overall.
• Alongside Vitamin B6, zinc aids in hydrochloric acid production in the stomach which helps with digesting protein and carbohydrates. Low zinc can contribute to low appetite.
• It is important for healthy stress response. Low zinc = more reactive to stress and emotional triggers.
• Zinc has an anti-inflammatory action.
• Zinc is important for wound healing, for collagen production in the skin, and for healthy skin, nails and hair. Eczema, peeling nails, poor wound healing and other skin issues can all be due to insufficient zinc.
• It is important for the immune system.
• Low levels of iron and zinc have been associated with memory deficits in children.

In addition to these Zinc is also involved in balancing blood sugar levels, it influences behaviour and learning, prevents oxidative stress and helps with development of reproductive system.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Why are kids so low in zinc?

One possibility is because the foods that we introduce to infants are low in zinc and can also cause the stores of zinc to be depleted. One study proposed that the high intake of cereals as first foods may contribute to the prevalence of iron and zinc deficiency, possibly due to the binding effect that processed grains can have on minerals, something that young children are more susceptible to.

Poor gut health can affect the absorption of minerals and if there are digestive issues, this may play a part.

The other issue is that the standard Australian diet is not abundant in minerals generally, and we know that 1/3 of the population is low in zinc. We cannot store this mineral and so need to eat it regularly, so when both adults and children are not eating enough zinc rich foods, it makes sense that we are seeing deficiencies.

See also: Pyrolle Disorder

How much zinc do we need?

The RDA (recommended daily allowance) for zinc in 1-8 year olds is 3-4mg/day.

Having a few foods rich in zinc throughout the day can help to keep levels up. For kids with a deficiency or those with Pyrolle disorder, consider supplementation. If you think your child would benefit from supplementation, book a consultation with a naturopath or nutritionist to get advise on the best forms of zinc, dosage, and to assess reasons why your child might be low.

Foods rich in zinc

• Oysters
• Ginger
• Beef, lamb, poultry, pork, liver
• Egg yolks
• Milk products
• Fish and seafood
• Whole grains, wheat germ
• Lentils, Chickpeas and Beans
• Nuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Peas, carrots, beets, cabbage

Click here for a Kid friendly Zinc Rich Recipe.

This article first appeared on Western Sydney Mum’s Hub

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A condition that is growing in awareness is Pyrolle disorder. This condition is associated with many types of problems but in particular mood imbalances, gut symptoms and behavioural issues in children. The diagnosis of conditions such as ADD/ADHD, food intolerances or anxiety may be related to Pyrolle disorder, so if you or someone you know has these health concerns, this might be something to look in to.

In my latest contribution to Western Sydney Mum’s Hub I talk about what Pyrolle disorder is, the symptoms you can look for as a clue, how to test for this condition and what you can do to help it with diet changes and herbal medicine.

Originally published here https://www.westernsydneymumshub.com.au/parenting/what-is-pyrolle-disorder.

So what is it?

Also referred to as pyroluria, mauve disorder or kryptopyrroluria, pyrolle disorder is a condition where there is an abnormal amount of the chemical hydroxyhermopyrrolin-2-one (HPL) excreted. Everyone produces this chemical in small amounts, however excretion of high levels may be linked to issues with the nervous system (usually resulting in mood and behavioural problems) and digestive complaints. When this occurs it is referred to as pyrolle disorder.

If you have ongoing issues with mental health, especially anxiety, this may be something to look into. It affects about 10% of the population and can be brought on by periods of stress, both emotional and physical, as stress causes the HPL chemical to be excreted very quickly.

It affects children and adults and can be a factor in various mental health issues, mostly anxiety, behavioural problems, ADHD, addictions and autism.

What are the Symptoms?

This condition can affect someone in a lot of different ways, mostly via the way it affects the nutrients zinc and B6 which are critical for health digestion, immune function, hormonal health and emotional balance. Not everyone experiences all the symptoms, but the expression of the condition could involve some or all of the following symptoms:

·         Anxiety

·         Depression

·         Mood swings

·         Low tolerance to stress

·         Sensitivity to noise and lights

·         A dramatic tendency (histrionic)

·         Pessimistic

·         Digestive complaints such as constipation or diarrhoea

·         Poor dream recall

·         White spots on nails

·         Poor appetite or nausea, especially mid morning

·         High tendency to stretch marks

·         Inability to tan or very pale skin

·         Skin complaints such as eczema, dry skin or rough skin on the back of the arms (keratosis pilaris)

·         Thinning hair and early greying of the hair

·         Sore joints

·         Irregular periods or delayed puberty

There can also be an allergy component to the condition as it affects histamine levels. I consider this helpful to test when supporting people with pyrolle disorder.

This condition has also been associated with other conditions such as autism , ADD/ADHD, allergies, alcoholism and additions, learning difficulties, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and acute intermittent porphyria.

How is it tested?

A urine test that measures the levels of pyrroles (hydroxyhaemopyrrolin-2-one i.e. HPL) in the urine can give you a big indication whether this condition is an issue for you.

Most people should have low levels – less than 10mcg/dL of HPL in their urine. The upper limit of normal for HPL varies between 8-20 mcg/dL and levels greater than 20 mcg/dL are considered to be positive for pyrrole disorder. While that may be a positive test for pyrolle disorder, in clinic I have found that until levels get even higher then pyrolle disorder isn’t the main cause for the symptoms experienced and shouldn’t be the key focus of treatment.

Is it genetic?

There is a high likelihood that it is a genetic condition, with a 50% chance that if one parent has the condition that it will be passed onto the child.

Other genes can have a role in this condition such as MTHFR.

A lot of the time this condition may not be an issue, but in combination with stress, trauma or dietary/lifestyle issues it can become a bigger problem.

How is it treated?

A holistic approach is important, as there are often a combination of factors involved.

Usually repletion of the nutrients zinc and Vitamin B6 are important, but other nutrients such as magnesium, omega fatty acids and supporting B vitamins are important.

As the condition affects, and is affected by digestive health, the gut also needs to be supported with diet, and gut supporting nutrients and probiotics.

Diet for Pyrolle Disorder

Top foods to find zinc and B6

Zinc containing foods: Spinach, prawns, oysters, salmon, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, mushrooms, garlic, lima beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas, eggs, turkey, beef, lamb, liver, brown rice.

B6 containing foods: Sunflower seeds, pistachios, salmon, turkey, lean pork, beef, prunes, banana, avocado, spinach, fortified cereals, rice bran.

Top foods for GLA (gamma-linolenic acid)

Avocado, brazil nuts, hemp seeds, peanuts, chicken liver, pinenuts, spirulina, borage oil.

Foods to avoid:

Those which are difficult to digest and are classed as inflammatory. This often includes gluten, dairy, alcohol, heavily processed or sugar rich foods and anything that contains chemicals or is overly refined. Some people respond best to a paleo style diet, or one free from grains.

Herbal medicine for Pyrolle Disorder

The symptoms of the condition vary for everyone, and so herbal medicine can be targeted to this. It may involve using herbs to support concentration and memory such as Bacopa, digestive health such as Gentian, Ginger, Dandelion root, Chamomile and Lemon Balm, or to reduce anxiety such as Passionflower. A herbalist can individualise a formula to the person.

If you think this may be an issue for you, seek help from a qualified health practitioner with experience in this area.

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Perhaps you’ve heard about one of the latest health buzzes when it comes to mental health – a cheeky enzyme known as MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase).

If you have a mutation in this gene then it can cause your methylation processes to work too much, too little, or not enough at all.  Methylation is essentially a process that occurs where DNA gets tagged with a ‘methyl group’ which lets the rest of the body know not to read that particular bit of DNA.  It’s also involved in the production of neurotransmitters, detoxification of chemicals, nerve health and processing of certain hormones and nutrients, to name just a few.

When the MTHFR genes work properly, you have adequate enzyme activity and that means you can more efficiently make proteins, use antioxidants, metabolize hormones, enjoy more stable brain chemistry, better eliminate toxins and heavy metals, and manage inflammation.  So if you’ve got a problem with this gene, it really can be a bugger.

How does it affect your mood?

Many people with the MTHFR gene experience mood imbalances.  This gene affects your mood in a few ways.

Reduced MTHFR enzyme means that you cannot make and recycle a very important antioxidant, glutathione effectively.  Glutathione is responsible for a vast array of activities in the body and low levels have been associated with conditions such as depression, inflammation, bipolar, chronic fatigue syndrome and autism.

If your body cannot methylate the chemical homocysteine (you can find out if this is too high via a blood test) that results in decreased production of SAMe.  This leads to decreased production of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters all responsible for mood balance.

If there is a reduced ability to detoxify chemicals and heavy metals (which is a factor for those with the MTHFR gene) this can also affect your mood.  Digestive and liver health can have an indirect affect on your mental health, for several reasons such as the health of your gut flora, increased inflammation and an impact on your neurotransmitters.  Digestive health problems have been linked to mental health problems in several studies.  Click here to read more.

A lot of people with MTHFR gene also have a condition called Pyroluria (also known as Pyrolle disorder, Mauve factor, Kryptopyrrole, Kryptopyrroluria.  People with this condition produce excess amounts of a substance called Pyrolles which bind to certain nutrients such as Vitamin B6, Biotin Zinc and GLA (an essential fatty acid).  There are several conditions associated with this disorder but namely it is involved in several mental health conditions such as Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Manic depression and ADD/ADHD.  This condition is also strongly linked to the state of the digestive system.

MTHFR and Folate

One of the main issues we have come to understand with MTHFR is that people with this gene cannot process folic acid into folate effectively and so cannot handle synthetic forms of the nutrient.  This can become a bit of an issue because synthetic folic acid is in pretty much every multi-vitamin, and a lot of foods are fortified with it.  If you are consuming synthetic folic acid and you can’t process it, it clogs up a lot of the pathways that require folate and as a result a lot of health complications arise.  You can also be prone to problems relating to deficiencies of folate, such as miscarriage and neural tube defects.

Photo by Braňo on Unsplash

People with MTHFR require a special activated form of this nutrient, the type found naturally in some foods.   How much depends on the level of the gene mutations present (there’s a lot of variety that you can have) and your diet and lifestyle can have a big impact on it as well – it’s completely possible to have this gene and be symptom free and healthy if your diet and lifestyle is fine, and the gene hasn’t been ‘switched on’ (usually by stressful events).  In Australia the closest to natural folate that we have available is folinic acid (calcium folinate) supplements, however this may still be difficult to metabolise for those who have very poor methylation.

Getting tested

If you suspect that you have this gene, then you can easily get yourself tested via labs such as Healthscope, Nutripath or 23 and Me.  You may like to get this organized with a health practitioner who is knowledgeable in the realm of MTHFR, so they can guide you with treatment if needed.

Learn more: MTHFR_Related_Health_Problems

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When your gut controls your mood: the gut-brain axis

From as early as the 1930’s, scientists were beginning to understand that the health of our digestive system could influence our mood.  The state of our intestinal lining and the balance of bacteria within our digestive system have a major role to play in the production of our neurotransmitters: chemical transmitters that tell our brain whether we should be feeling such ways as happy, sad, agitated, or calm.  But even though the research in this area sky-rocketed in the last decade and continues to grow every day, the concept of our gut-brain connection isn’t very well known.

The gut is linked to the brain

Did you know – When you were just starting to grow in your Mumma’s womb, your brain and your digestive system developed from the same lump of tissue.  During this process of dividing up cells (embryogenesis) this lump of tissue divides and forms our central nervous system and our enteric nervous system (this is the nervous system of our gut – sometimes called the second brain).  These two are connected by an important ‘wire’ – our vagus nerve.  This development can help us understand why there are so many similar chemicals and receptors in both our brain and our digestive system, for instance serotonin.

Gut bugs and your mood

As soon as you’re born, bacterial colonies start to develop in your digestive system.  Within the first few days, the bacteria starts sending messages to the nervous system and can actually determine our nervous system ‘set point’ long term (1).

When the balance of our gut bacteria (collectively referred to as the microbiome) is affected, this can affect your mood.  Studies have found that the microbiome can have a major impact on stress levels and anxiety (2).  In fact, by treating imbalances in our microbiota, it is possible to support a wide range of mental health disorders (3), (4), (5), (6), (7).

The second brain

The nerves in your digestive system are constantly speaking to your central nervous system.  If your gut is irritated for some reason – say you’ve eaten something that you’re intolerant to (like gluten, for example), you’ve generally got a bad diet, there’s an imbalance in your microbiome (that’s your collective gut bacteria, remember) or you’ve got an infection – this can create an inflammatory reaction and will certainly make you irritated as well.  We know that depression is both associated with, and worsened by inflammation.  This inflammation in the brain can be driven by inflammation in the gut, which can be caused by intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and bacterial imbalances (dysbiosis).  Treating leaky gut can help reduce the severity of depression (4), (8), (9), (10), (11).

Neurotransmitters in our gut

Serotonin is produced in large amounts in our digestive system.  In people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) there is too much serotonin in their digestive system.  This is why antidepressants known as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can improve the symptoms of IBS: these act by reducing the amount of serotonin taken into cells in the rest of our body which allows more to get into the brain.  However anti-depressants can affect the gut negatively as well, because if you weren’t making enough serotonin in the gut in the first place, you’d end up with even lower levels in the digestive tract and so it can become irritated, affectively you’ll get a depressed gut (12), (13).

A vicious cycle

When your gut is upset, you feel upset.  But stress can affect your digestive system just as much as it affects your mood.  It can impair the secretion of digestive acids, slow down the motility of the gut, allows the unfriendly bacteria to grow, reduces your friendly bacteria and exacerbates intestinal permeability (leaky gut) (14), (8).  This is a recipe for an unhappy digestive system, and as you know this can then go on to send more messages to your brain: so you can see how the cycle continues.

People with gut problems are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.  Some studies have found a high proportion of anxiety in those with gut conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS), Crohn’s disease and coeliac disease (15), (16), (17).

Helping the gut-brain axis.

By treating digestive problems, sealing leaky gut and balancing your microbiome it is possible to help with conditions such as anxiety and depression, and there’s even research showing the benefits of treating the gut in conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia and autism (10), (18), (11).  Probiotics are one of your major tools when it comes to treating the gut, but it’s a good idea to consult with a health practitioner to make sure you’re getting the right type, and also to get a good gut healing treatment program to go along with it ⁽¹⁹⁾, (4), (9).

Related articles:

• Probiotic stress busters: http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/probiotic-stress-busters
• Depression starts in the gut?:  http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/depression-begins-in-the-gut
• What is Dysbiosis: http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/what-is-dysbiosis
• Fermented foods (foods to stop bloating and farting): http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/foods-to-stop-bloating-and-farting-fermented-foods
• Enhance your health with probiotics: http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/enhance-your-health-with-probiotics
• The benefits of soaking and sprouting: http://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/the-benefits-of-soaking-and-sprouting-plus-a-sprouted-chickpea-hummus-recipe

Works Cited

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When I was a kid I gave my mother grief in the mornings: I never got out of bed on time and was a fussy breakfast eater.  Remembering those mornings I understand the stress that parents go through, trying to give their children a nutritious breakfast and healthy packed lunch to send them off to school with.  Hectic lifestyles will usually result in parents reaching for the quickest food options available, and this usually comes from a packet.  Which food is picked is usually the product that appears to be the healthiest option, makes the best health claims and which one tastes the best.  Unless you’ve studied nutrition it can be very difficult (and time consuming) to stand in the aisles analysing each product, and then you’ve got to make the final decision – will my child eat this?  So we place our trust in the companies.  Surely they know what they’re doing, right?  Surely they just want to do what’s right?

Food companies know that parents want to do the best for their child, and will market their products based around a ‘health perk’, often hoping that this will distract the consumers from the other nasties in the food, or the lack of other important nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals.  Some of the foods most susceptible to this are breakfast cereals, formulas, and snack foods.  Products that are “rich in calcium/iron/protein for healthy bones/energy/muscles” can sometimes be rich in sugar, low in fibre and/or high in preservatives.  This does not balance out, creating a health food.

Artificial colours and preservatives

Over the last 50 years we developed the ability to travel further and faster. Our diets have changed dramatically, incorporating a bigger variety of foods which are now usually available year round.  More recently, over the last 15 years foods have changed even further with the use of additives to make our foods more colourful, tasty and less perishable.  Some of these additives have been well tested and shown to be safe, while others have been linked to many health problems such as hyperactivity, asthma and skin problems.  The most common problematic ones are artificial colours, such as Brilliant Blue 133, Tartrazine 102, Sunset Yellow 110, Amaranth 123 or Fast Green 143.  Additives like these are derived from petroleum and are not considered safe in other countries such as USA, UK and Norway.

One of the reasons additives are still used in Australia is because it cuts down the costs of making food: for example to reduce the cocoa in chocolate milk while keeping the brown colour they add a little bit of cocoa plus Brilliant Blue 133 and Brown HT 155; to give the appearance of fruit in some yoghurts they add a variety of red, yellow and blue colours.

In many cases the colour is added to make food look more real as manufacturers skimp on quality raw ingredients to save a few dollars, or the colour is added specifically to increase the products’ marketing appeal to young children in particular.

In other countries they use different, safer colouring options based on real foods, and while these are available in Australia they are rarely used because it is the more expensive option.

Added Sugar

When you look at the labels of some foods (not just children’s foods) you may be surprised to see that there is a lot of sugar added into savoury as well as sweet foods.  Some common savoury foods containing added sugar include sauces, salad dressings and muesli bars.

So if 1 tsp of sugar = 4g, you can determine how many teaspoons of sugar are in a meal by dividing the amount of sugar in 100g or a serving by 4.  There can be up to 4 teaspoons of sugar in some yoghurts, 2½ in a tin of baked beans and up to 6½ in a small bar of milk chocolate.

Look at the labels on foods, and check for added sugars.  Sugar comes under the guise of many names: fructose, sucrose, dextrose, maltose, glucose syrup, lactose, corn syrup, hydrolysed starch, inverted sugar, or concentrated fruit juice.  The nutrition panel details how much total sugar is contained in a food, but this can include added and natural sugars.

When children consume sugar-rich foods they get an artificial high, rapidly raising the levels of sugar and adrenaline in their bloodstream. This can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulties concentrating.

This rapid rise in blood sugar levels stimulates the release of too much insulin, which causes children’s blood sugar levels to plummet, resulting in irritable and cranky kids.  Regular consumption of these foods can lead to children becoming overweight or obese, which is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.  It also increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

Large amounts of sugar in the diet can also interfere with the absorption of calcium and zinc, important minerals for children’s health and development.

6 teaspoons of sugar a day can suppress the effectiveness of your immune system by up to 25%.  Sugar competes with vitamin C uptake into immune cells.  I often recommend to parents whose children have a cold or ‘flu to cut out sugar while they are ill so as to allow the immune system to reach its full potential.  If your child constantly has an infection, perhaps you should consider reducing or eliminating sugar from the diet.

Frequent consumption of sugary foods and beverages is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in children.

But they’re fun!

Many parents fondly look at lollies and junk food with nostalgia and think that if they don’t give their children these foods they are missing out on a vital experience of childhood.

Now that you know the facts about some of these additives, you may look at your child’s lunchbox or the next birthday party spread through new eyes. Ask yourself if you really want your family to be eating these chemicals in our foods which are not even allowed in foods in other countries. Think about the long term health effects of these chemicals and added sugar and whether or not you want your family to eat real foods or so called “fun” foods filled with additives.

Helpful ways to reduce your child’s additive and sugar intake

• Get creative and make healthy versions of your kid’s favourite sweet foods. Fruits such as berries and bananas are an ideal way to sweeten cakes, muffins, sauces and smoothies.
• Many yoghurts aimed at children contain too much sugar, additives and preservatives.  Make your own by getting a natural full-fat yoghurt and add your own fruits, such as a dollop of fruit puree, or from 9 months on chopped dried fruit (choose unsulphured).
• Instead of giving your child sweet snacks that are high in added sugar and low in nutrients, offer them healthier naturally sweet foods, such as fruit, small amounts of sun-dried fruit and fruit yoghurts.
• Choose whole oats, natural mueslis, puffed cereals (rice, millet, buckwheat) and other wholegrains for breakfast instead of sugary breakfast cereals.
• Watch out for so called health bars and breakfast bars in your supermarket — often marketed as healthy snacks or ‘breakfast on the run’.  You are best-off making your own muesli bars and biscuits for your kids to take to school and for after-school snacks.
• Avoid giving soft drinks to your kids.  Instead mix a little 100% fruit juice with some natural mineral water.
• Avoid using cordials as they are a concentrated form of sugar. Use 100% fruit juice as cordial, diluted with water.
• Keep lollies and chocolates for special occasions such as birthday parties, and try to go for those free from additives and synthetic colours.
• Make it extra special by getting the kids involved in making the sweets at home – they’ll have fun making them with you, and will appreciate the treats all the more because they’ve helped make them.

Resources:

Additive Alert

Chemical Maze

Lunch Matters

Laptop Lunches

Lucy Burney Children’s Diets

Mindd Foundation – Practitioner database of those specialising in paediatric disorders such as ADHD, Asthma, allergies, autism, chronic illness, depression, learning and language delay, and digestive and behavioural disorders.

Children’s Cookbooks:

The post Children’s Health: Food Additives appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Give you child the best start in life

Helping Children Reach Their Full Potential

All parents want the best for their children, and this includes helping them to develop and grow both physically and mentally. With 1 in 16 school-aged children now being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 1 in 91 being diagnosed with autism, we must begin asking “Is there something more that we can do?”

Even without a diagnosis, many children struggle with various aspects of cognitive function and learning, including memory, judgement, problem solving, and language development. Poor learning or behaviour needn’t be an inevitable part of life. With some simple strategies, you can help your children achieve their full potential.

Keeping Your Kids Focused and Alert

A child’s education forms the foundation from which they learn about the world around them and develop social and behavioural skills.  A poor start in life can have lifelong effects on learning and social development. Given the impact that education can have on shaping our children’s future, it is important we give them the best possible start in life.

For some kids, getting the brain to quieten down and switch off from distractions can be a huge challenge, both in the classroom and at home. This can contribute to poor concentration, decreased focus, and learning difficulties. The good news is that there are certain nutrients and herbs that work together to improve concentration and
cognitive function, reduce background ‘noise’ or distractions and stop our children from being left behind at school.

Good Fats for a Great Brain

Supporting your child’s brain health can be as simple as starting with omega-3 essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish.  Unfortunately, many children are not eating enough oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, and are deficient in these healthy fats which are crucial for brain development. Deficiencies in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the active components in fish oil, have been associated with behavioural symptoms in children. DHA in particular comes under the spotlight, as higher doses of DHA have been found to significantly improve attention and cognition in children. Supplementing with highly purified and concentrated fish oils containing therapeutic levels of EPA and DHA is therefore vital to support the developing brain.

Build a Healthy Brain

Phospholipds are another type of healthy fat that plays a key role not only in nervous system function, but also lays a sound structural foundation for growing brains. Phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine, are building blocks in the structure of every cell membrane in the body, including those in the brain and the nervous system. As a result, these lipids are important for brain and nervous system health, as well as supporting memory, learning and behaviour. In fact, phosphatidylserine supplementation has been shown to yield positive results in reducing symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in children with ADHD.

Boosting Brain Power – It’s all in the Herbs!

Herbs, such as green tea (Camellia sinensis) and brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), have proven clinically effective in improving children’s cognitive function. Green tea contains a rare amino acid known as L-theanine. At therapeutic doses, L-theanine made children more calm but alert, with an increased attention span and improved
memory – all important for maximising learning potential. Brahmi is another herb that is particularly beneficial for supporting mental performance and nervous system function. Studies have found that when used for a period of 12 weeks, Brahmi significantly enhanced memory and information processing, and reduced anxiety.

Nourish Those Nerves

Along with essential lipids and herbs, a number of nutrients are also valuable in supporting cognitive function in children. Iodine and Vitamin D are essential nutrients for healthy brain development and function which are commonly deficient in children in Australia and New Zealand. Healthy brain and nerve signalling is also supported with nutrients such as activated vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium.
The best way to ensure your children are getting the nutrients they need is to provide fresh, healthy food including fruit and vegetables, and quality protein at every meal. Healthy kids also need plenty of play and physical activity, and adequate rest and sleep.

Watch Your Child Thrive

Impaired cognitive function and behavioural development can greatly interfere with a child’s ability to learn about the world around them and function fully. Call or email me today if your child struggles with concentration and lacks the focus required for optimal learning, or exhibits signs of hyperactivity or other behavioural issues. By encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle, and providing the essential nutrients required for healthy brain development and function, you can truly give your child the best possible start in life.

The post Building Children’s Brains appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Naturopaths and Nutritionists have long recognized the important of iron in children, particularly for those with behavioral issues such as ADD or ADHD.

A 2004 study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, found that 84 percent of children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of iron, compared with 18 percent of kids without ADHD. The lower the levels of ferritin — a protein found inside cells that store iron — the more severe the symptoms.

Iron has a lot of important roles in the body, it helps us to carry oxygen into our cells which supports our energy levels, but it is also involved with dopamine production, an important neurotransmitter.

In children the iron deficiency isn’t always obvious.  Commonly we recognize iron deficiency by symptoms of anemia (e.g. pale and fatigued), but it can present itself as a completely different symptoms – being hyperactive, aggressive and inattentive.  It could also present as strange cravings for ice (this is known as PICA) or other things that aren’t food such as dirt or bark (this happens a lot during pregnancy as well).

Don’t supplement without having your levels checked, in particular your ferritin (iron stores).  Some people have a condition which causes iron to store in the body, so supplementing with iron in these instances is toxic.  When children with ADD/ADHD who had no iron deficiency were given iron supplements there was no change in their behaviour.

In these instances, low iron levels weren’t always caused by insufficient iron intake.  Other factors such as poor absorption of iron, or interference with iron absorption from competing minerals or parasites can also occur.  It has also been observed children who have difficult absorbing iron are more frequently born to mothers who had iron deficiency problems during pregnancy.

Iron supplements that are based on the cheaper forms of iron such as ferrous fumarate can cause constipation in some individuals.

Iron will absorb better alongside Vitamin C, and with an acidic meal (e.g. take with a glass or orange juice).

Iron Supplements Reduce ADHD in Low Birth Weight Infants

This study performed in Sweden gave 285 marginally low birth weight infants either 0, 1 or 2 mg/kg per day of iron supplements from 6 weeks to 6 months of age. At age three-and-a-half, these infants and 95 who had a normal birth weight were assessed for intelligence and behavior.  They found no significant different in the IQ of the children, but they did find that those who were low-birth weight who had been supplemented with iron had big reduction in ADHD symptoms, which increased slightly with the increased dose of iron.  Of the low birth weight infants who received no iron supplements, 12.7 percent showed signs of behavior problems, compared to 2.9 percent of infants in the 1-mg group and 2.7 percent of the 2-mg group. In the control group, 3.2 percent of children showed signs of behavioral problems.

SK Berglund, B Westrup, B Hägglöf, O Hernell, M Domellöf.  Effects of Iron Supplementation of LBW Infants on Cognition and Behavior at 3 Years. Pediatrics, Dec. 10 2012

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