Let’s address this topic before the year fully starts – as I see many clients at the end of the year suffering …..
There is a strength many of us wear quietly.
The ability to keep going.
To hold everything together.
To show up for work, for family, for friends, for life — even when things feel heavy underneath.
For a long time, I wore that strength too….
And if I’m honest, I was proud of it. My mum brought me up with this ethic.
But here is what I have learned — personally and professionally:
The body can withstand a lot.
But it is not invincible.
In 2025, I went through a cancer diagnosis…
I share this not for sympathy, and not to focus on treatment — but because of what it taught me.
Years before the diagnosis, I had experienced significant emotional stress. A marriage breakdown. Perimenopause. Financial Pressure. …..
…….A period of intense internal upheaval.
As a naturopath and biochemist, I understand the science. Chronic stress upregulates inflammatory pathways.
It alters immune surveillance.
It depletes nutrients.
It shifts hormonal balance.
And when those systems are burdened long enough, the body begins to struggle.
I had taught this to clients for decades.
Yet even with knowledge, I had been pushing through.
The piece many people don’t talk about
Stress does not need to be physical to be real!
Think about something that scares you….
For me, it’s snakes.
If I imagine one near my feet, my heart rate rises. My breathing changes. My body reacts as though the threat is real…. however, it is only a thought…. Not real!
……Even though there is no snake.
The body does not distinguish well between an imagined threat and a real imminent threat. It doesn’t distinguish between emotional, mental or physical.
When we replay hurt.
When we carry rage.
When we feel trapped, unsupported, overwhelmed.
The chemistry is the same.
Digestion reduces.
Immunity lowers.
Inflammation increases.
Repair mechanisms become compromised.
And if this continues long enough, the body eventually says, “Enough.”
I never believed I would die from cancer
Fear was not my dominant emotion. Instead, I saw it as a wake-up call. A white flag from my body.
Not punishment.
Not betrayal.
But a demand for change.
I use an analogy with clients about a wagon wheel – the spokes can be broken and the wheel still can function. When the central cog breaks down, so does the whole wheel.
I had been the central cog in the wheel — holding everything together. Supporting others. Working hard. Burning the candle at both ends.
When the central cog weakens, the whole wheel wobbles. And I had reached my limit.
Here is what I know now, and what I share gently with you:
Healing only happens in a calm environment.
Emotions cannot be shelved indefinitely — they will settle somewhere in the body.
Boundaries are not selfish; they are protective.
Thoughts are powerful biochemical events.
And pushing through is not resilience — it is sometimes avoidance.
Modern life asks a lot of us. Our genes have not evolved as quickly as our schedules have.
You can hold it together for a long time. But the body always keeps score.
If you have been pushing through…
If you feel like you are the one keeping everything afloat…
If you sense something inside you is tired, even if you can’t quite name it…
Please hear this:
Your body is not weak.
Please listen and take note…
It is wise.
And when it whispers, it is far kinder to listen than to wait until it has to shout.
Here’s to your health — and mine. I would love to hear how this resonates with you.
Warmly,
Teressa, Naturopath +Biochemist
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
