Over the past few years, I’ve noticed something quietly increasing in clinic.
Not illness. Not laziness. Not lack of effort.
But overwhelm……
Beautiful, intelligent people walking into my clinic with bags of supplements… carefully chosen powders… protocols saved from podcasts… adaptogens layered on top of adrenal blends… magnesium on top of sleep herbs… DIM on top of detox formulas… berberine on top of “metabolic reset” stacks.
All taken with the best of intentions….
And yet they sit in front of me saying: “I don’t understand. I’m doing everything right. Why do I still feel off?”
This is the illusion of health…
Because in today’s wellness culture, effort is mistaken for strategy.
More is mistaken for better.
And supplements are mistaken for solutions.
And I say this gently — because I understand why it happens.
When you don’t feel right in your body, you want to do something – Right?
Doing feels productive….
Taking something feels proactive….
Stacking protocols feels responsible….
But through years of experience I have seen that biology doesn’t respond to panic and added layers….
It responds to precise and effective strategies.
When Good Things Become Too Much
Supplements are not the enemy. I prescribe them daily in clinic, sparingly and with careful consideration.
But here’s what many people don’t realise:
Every capsule you swallow has a metabolic cost.
….The liver must process it.
….The gut must absorb it.
….The kidneys must filter it.
….The nervous system must adapt to it.
And when you layer five, eight, ten, twelve products together — without understanding underlying physiology — you can create:
- Nutrient competition
- Methylation overload
- Liver congestion
- Adaptogen fatigue
- Masked symptoms instead of resolved causes
I’ve seen high-dose zinc disrupt copper balance and contribute to increased fatigue and hair shedding.
Melatonin create morning grogginess in someone whose real issue was blood sugar instability at 2am.
Berberine used long-term without monitoring alter gut microbiota in unintended ways
High-dose activated B vitamins trigger anxiety in already stressed nervous systems.
Not because the supplement was “bad”.
But because it wasn’t right for that body at that time.
The Psychology Behind Over-Supplementation
This is the part we don’t talk about enough.
When people feel dismissed… when blood tests come back “normal” (and that is 80% of my clientele)… when symptoms are brushed aside… they often turn to the wellness world for answers.
And the wellness world offers many.
Quickly….
Loudly…..
Confidently…..
It can feel comforting to gather information and act immediately. To stack solutions. To take control.
But sometimes what looks like empowerment is actually nervous system anxiety trying to create safety.
And that’s not something we fix with another capsule.
The Body Doesn’t Need More. It Needs Direction.
In clinic, my job isn’t to give the longest supplement list.
It’s to understand:
What system is actually dysregulated?
Is this inflammatory? Hormonal? Nervous system driven?
Is this a nutrient deficiency — or a stress adaptation?
Is the gut irritated — or simply overwhelmed?
Because once we identify the primary driver, the plan becomes simpler.
Targeted.
Intentional.
Measured.
Often, we remove more than we add. And that’s when people start to feel relief.
Sustainable Vitality Isn’t Built on Guesswork
I’m not interested in trends. I’m interested in sustainable biology.
The kind where your energy is steady. Your mood is stable. Your digestion is reliable. Your sleep feels restorative.
That doesn’t come from reacting to every symptom with a new product.
It comes from stepping back, calming the system, and making strategic decisions based on your physiology — not someone else’s protocol.
If you’re currently taking a handful of supplements and still feel confused about your body…
Pause.
You don’t need to panic.
You don’t need to throw everything out.
But you may need a clearer lens.
Next week, I’m going to talk about something many of you have experienced — being told your blood tests are “normal” while your body tells a very different story.
Because understanding what to look for — and what optimal truly means — changes everything.
For now, if you suspect your body may be overloaded rather than under-supported… simply ask yourself:
What if the next step isn’t more… but better direction?
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.
