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Vitamin D: The Hidden Link Between Menopause, Mood and Immunity
What if the missing piece to your low mood is something as simple as vitamin D?
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Perimenopause and Disordered Eating: Why Midlife Can Disrupt your Relationship with Food
Perimenopause is often discussed in terms of hot flushes, erratic cycles and decisions around HRT. For many women, however, one of the most unsettling changes is a sudden shift in their relationship with food and body image.
Irina Pollastri
4 min read


How Circadian Rhythm Disruption Triggers Depression in Midlife Women
How Circadian Rhythm Disruption Triggers Depression in Midlife Women
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Practical ways to reset your circadian rhythm
Practical ways to reset your circadian rhythm: Your circadian rhythm is one of the most responsive physiological systems in the body and with small, consistent changes you can improve your mood in just a few weeks.
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Gut Empowerment: Unlocking the Power of Short-Chain Fatty Acids for Vibrant Midlife Health
Why Every Midlife Woman Should Optimise Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the unsung heroes behind vibrant gut health, balanced hormones, and a sharper, more resilient mind. Maximising your body’s production of these vital molecules may just be the next major wellness upgrade for midlife women. Photo by Dannie Sorum on Unsplash What Are SCFAs? SCFAs are powerful compounds made when your gut bacteria break down the fibre you eat. The three mai
Nicola Shubrook
2 min read


Fibremaxxing: The Midlife Wellness Revolution
Why Maximising Fibre Can Transform Gut and Mental Health for Women 40+ Fibremaxxing started trending over on TikTok, and whilst that may be more for the ‘kids’ (Gen Z) it is a trend that as midlife women, we can get on board with. This trending health movement is all about encouraging you to increase you daily fibre intake for profound benefits in digestion, hormonal balance, brain health, and overall well-being. This approach is rooted in evidence, not hype, and it is espec
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read


Creatine for the mind: what the latest science says about brain and mental health benefits
Creatine is a substance found in every cell in the body, and it is essential for producing energy. It is more commonly known as a sports supplement, as it can enhance muscle strength and power, and can therefore lead to better results. However, creatine is now being researched for its potential neurological and psychological benefits, including improving cognition, memory and mood. How creatine is used by the body for energy Whilst we can get creatine from food, meat and
Nicola Shubrook
2 min read


The vagus nerve: What is it, and why it matters when it comes to your mental health?
For years as a nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner, I have been talking about the mind-body connection and that this ‘connection’ is through several different means: Physically – through our spine and skeletal system Emotionally – our emotions can influence the body, especially our gut and our immune system Physiologically – we know that the gut and the gut microbiome can influence the brain and our moods But one area that has been growing with interest
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Meet Magnesium: The ‘Relaxation Mineral’ Your Child Might Be Missing
Is your child struggling with sleep, feeling anxious, or having trouble staying focused at school? Magnesium might be the missing link to help them feel more calm and focused. Magnesium is an essential mineral that gently supports your body’s natural rhythms, playing a crucial role in everything from mood regulation to sleep quality. Often referred to as the ‘relaxation mineral’, magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, making it essential for overall health. It
Sophie Nielsen
3 min read


Is biohacking an unhealthy obsession?
In recent years, biohacking has become more mainstream: influencers on social media, apps and tracking devices that we can use to monitor everything from stress levels, sleep and blood glucose levels, books, supplements, and even a Netflix documentary about an anti-aging advocate who spends millions every year to live longer. Biohacking is essentially an approach to achieving optimal physical and mental health by making changes to your diet and lifestyle that allow you to n
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read


Functional Testing for ADHD in Children: What Parents Need to Know
With so many testing options available today, it can be overwhelming for parents of children with ADHD to know where to begin ...
Sophie Nielsen
5 min read


Why diets fail: The impact on your body and your mental health
Every January, we are bombarded with new diets, detox products, and promises of a "healthy" lifestyle, yet if all these quick fixes worked, the diet industry wouldn’t be a multi-billion-dollar business, right? It thrives on our desire for fast results, but what happens when they don’t last? We end up blaming ourselves for not sticking to the latest trend … and the cycle repeats. Beliefs about the necessity of "Veganuary" or other New Year health trends are often driven by cl
Irina Pollastri
4 min read


Is there a link between the gut and brain in children with ADHD?
Discover how gut health impacts ADHD in children. Explore the gut-brain axis and how improving gut health can support mood, behaviour, and A
Sophie Nielsen
3 min read


Acid reflux vs Silent reflux: What's the difference?
Acid reflux vs Silent reflux: What's the difference?
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read


Why intermittent fasting may not be that great for us women in midlife
Intermittent Fasting has been all the rage over recent years and has been hitting the headlines...
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read


Uncovering the benefits of functional medicine for treating eating disorders
There is no single reason why someone may develop an eating disorder. Eating disorders are complex and multi-factorial, but functional medicine can play a positive role in understanding those factors, and helping eating disorder recovery. The term 'eating disorders' in this post is referring to all eating eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, orthorexia, OSFED, PICA and Rumination Disorder. Why do people develop an eating disorder
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


What is insulin resistance, and how can it affect your mental health?
Most people think of Diabetes when they hear the word insulin, but insulin, and specifically insulin resistance, can be a contributing factor or cause of poor mental health. You may already be familiar with terms such as blood sugar balancing, insulin or even insulin resistance. Often these words and terms are commonly discussed in relation to conditions such as Diabetes, obesity and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). But what about when it comes to your mental health? It’s
Nicola Shubrook
5 min read


Why genes are not your (mental health) destiny
It is commonly known these days that many health conditions, including mental health, can run in families, either because we know our family history, or because research is beginning to identify certain genes risk factors. With mental health this includes depression, addiction, bipolar, autism and ADHD. Even eating disorders may have a possible genetic component. What we do know about our genes when it comes to mental health Certain genes have been identified that may influe
Nicola Shubrook
2 min read


Understanding portion sizes and how to get them right
Understanding portion sizes is more than just how much you should be putting on your plate. Here we look into how to understand portions sizes better, and you can also grab our free handout on ‘How to build a better plate’. How to build a better plate. © Urban Wellness UK Limited “How much should I be eating?” is probably one of the most common questions we get asked here at Urban Wellness. Many of our clients are unsure of how much they should be eating, and often ser
Nicola Shubrook
2 min read


Four things that can affect your blood sugar, that are not food!
Firstly, let’s recap on what blood sugars, or blood glucose, is as this phrase is becoming incr...
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read


Should I eat gluten or not?
Should I eat gluten or not? This must be one of the most popular questions we are asked here a...
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Why breakfast is so important in menopause
When you’re busy, breakfast may be the most important thing you do in your day especially if yo...
Nicola Shubrook
4 min read


Are you eating enough?
Often women may notice some weight gain as their bodies shift into menopause, or as a result of...
Nicola Shubrook
2 min read


Understanding restless legs syndrome
Do your legs twitch, ache or throb at night? It’s like a strong, irresistible, can’t control, ...
Nicola Shubrook
3 min read
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