Wellness by Designs - Practitioner Podcast

• Decoding Gut Inflammation: The Power of GI-MAP Testing in Autoimmune Conditions with Vanessa Vanderhoek

  What if the key to calming autoimmunity isn’t stronger suppression, but a clearer conversation between your gut and your immune system?In this episode, we sit down with integrative and functional medicine nutritionist Vanessa Vanderhoek to explore how microbiome shifts, barrier breakdown, and nervous system stress converge into autoimmune flares,  and how the GI-MAP can transform complexity into a clear, safe plan. We unpack the clinical significance of dysbiosis patterns such as Klebsiella and Prevotella, the risks signalled by depleted keystone species like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and what these patterns reveal about conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, and juvenile arthritis. You’ll learn how to interpret zonulin for leaky gut, use secretory IgA highs and lows as action points, and rely on calprotectin and occult blood as decisive markers for medical referral.Vanessa brings the science to life with real cases: an ulcerative colitis patient who avoided bowel resection by making one well-timed dietary shift; a rare and painful skin condition that settled once triggers were removed and the mucosa repaired; and a case of severe bloating that revealed the early clues of scleroderma, guiding faster diagnosis and a clear path forward. Throughout, we highlight the principles of precision and pacing, building plans that align with a client’s readiness, capacity, and budget so meaningful change actually sticks.We also address the often-overlooked driver: vagus nerve dysfunction and chronic stress. When the sympathetic system takes over, digestion stalls, sIgA drops, and tolerance erodes. Vanessa walks us through the simple rituals that restore regulation, sitting to eat, slower chewing, pre-meal breathing, and the nutrients that rebuild the mucosal barrier, including vitamins A, D and E, and zinc. Safety threads through the entire conversation: co-managing with GPs, repeating calprotectin when indicated, and cross-checking protocols with immunosuppressant medications.If you’re looking for fewer flares, shorter recovery times, and more agency in autoimmune care, this episode gives you a grounded, clinically relevant roadmap. Subscribe, share with a practitioner friend, and let us know your biggest takeaway.Connect Vanessa:Vanessa's podcast Thrive Forward: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-thrive-forward-podcast/id1806055391 YoutubeShownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health websiteRegister as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au Follow us on Socials Instagram: Designsforhealthaus Facebook: Designsforhealthaus DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

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• From Knock To Neuroinflammation: A Naturopathic Roadmap For Concussion Care with Louise Cork

  What if the real fallout from a head knock is not the moment of impact, but the silent systemic storm that unfolds in the weeks, months and even years that follow?In this powerful episode, clinical naturopath Louise Cork reframes concussion as a whole-body injury that is widely underreported, frequently misunderstood, and too often treated as an isolated knock to the head. Drawing on years of clinical experience, Louise explains why symptoms can appear long after the incident, how intestinal permeability and a disrupted microbiome can amplify neuroinflammation, and why a gut-first approach often becomes the missing link in recovery.We explore the systemic cascade that follows impact: increased intestinal permeability, a leaky blood-brain barrier, microglial priming, altered HPA axis signalling and hormone shifts such as low testosterone in men. Louise shows how these shifts can present as headaches, fatigue, anxiety, poor stress tolerance and slow injury recovery. A compelling motocross case study highlights how mapping a patient’s clinical timeline across body systems can reveal the turning points many people overlook.We then move into practical strategies. Louise shares evidence-informed tools to repair the terrain and calm an oversensitised brain, including stool-guided treatment plans, endotoxin control with SBI and S. boulardii, targeted probiotics, and nutraceuticals such as saffron for mood and NFkB regulation, PEA for endocannabinoid balance and pain, omega 3s for inflammatory resolution, and thoughtful curcumin use that considers COX LOX balance without overloading the liver. We also explore sleep as a primary therapy, the role of the glymphatic system in clearing neuroinflammation, and how nutrients like L-theanine can deepen rest without immediately reaching for melatonin.Prevention is a major focus. Whether you are working with athletes, military personnel, domestic violence survivors or high-risk workers, Louise outlines how optimising gut health, sleep, recovery rituals and nutritional foundations can reduce the fallout when impacts occur.If you have had a knock, care for someone who has, or support patients navigating persistent symptoms, this episode offers a clear and actionable framework: assess deeply, repair the gut, calm the brain, support sleep and tailor the plan to the individual.If this episode supports you or someone you love, follow the show, share it with a teammate or colleague, and leave a review so more people can access these tools.Connect with Louise:  www.theconcussionnaturopath.comShownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health websiteRegister as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au Follow us on Socials Instagram: Designsforhealthaus Facebook: Designsforhealthaus DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

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• The Gut–Skin Conversation: Decoding Acne Through the Microbiome with Asha Evertsz

  What if adult acne isn’t hormonal after all, but an inflammatory signal from the gut asking for help?In this thought-provoking episode, naturopath Asha Evertsz unpacks the gut–skin–brain axis and reveals why most adult acne is less about hormones and more about systemic inflammation, microbial imbalance, and stress. Drawing on years of clinical experience treating complex female acne, Asha reframes the condition as a terrain issue, not a topical one, where digestion, bile flow, and microbial diversity determine how the skin behaves.You’ll hear how chronic stress, impaired digestion, and microbiome disruption from antibiotics, the pill, and Roaccutane alter immune pathways and ignite the mTOR signalling cascade that fuels breakouts. Asha walks through the stool markers that matter, including secretory IgA, zonulin, SCFAs, and Akkermansia, and explains the overlooked roles of bile, stomach acid, and pancreatic enzymes, her “guardians of the gut.” She demystifies the H. pylori connection, showing how low stomach acid and disrupted FOXO1 and IGF-1 pathways link directly to acne through poor absorption, excess sebum, and inflammation.From there, we get practical. Asha outlines her phased gut-repair framework: fortifying mucosal defences, feeding the microbiome with fibre and polyphenols, introducing strain-specific probiotics, and only then layering in antimicrobials like berberine, a clever mTOR modulator. She shares clinical pearls on using bovine immunoglobulins to rebuild IgA and barrier function, timing omega-3s once bile flow is restored, and using zeolite, curcumin, and green tea to bind and calm the system during detox. From the outside in, she explains how corneotherapy protects the skin’s acid mantle and microbiome with topical pre-, pro-, and postbiotics, ditching harsh actives that create “leaky skin.”Whether you’re a practitioner ready to move beyond surface-level acne care or a clinician refining your gut-first protocols, this conversation offers a test-led roadmap for rebuilding both inner and outer barriers, turning chronic flare-ups into calm, resilient skin.Connect with Asha: Acne Naturopath | Asha Evertsz | HomeShownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health websiteRegister as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au Follow us on Socials Instagram: Designsforhealthaus Facebook: Designsforhealthaus DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

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• Collagen in Motion: The Missing Link in Rehab, Recovery, and Bone Health with Matthew Craig

  What if one of the most overlooked tools in recovery wasn’t a therapy or a stretch - but a specific protein that rebuilds what pain breaks down?In this episode, integrative physiotherapist Matthew Craig takes us inside the evolving role of targeted collagen peptides in real-world rehabilitation - from fresh surgical scars and stubborn tendon pain to cancer-related cording, fascia restriction, and the creeping loss of bone strength in midlife.Pain doesn’t follow a neat script, and neither does healing. That’s why Matthew unpacks where collagen makes the biggest impact: in poorly perfused tissues that heal slowly, in post-cancer recovery where cording tethers movement and amplifies pain, and in athletes who need to back up high training loads without joint flare-ups. He shares practical guidance on dose and timing - why 10 g daily supports ongoing repair, and why acute or “critical window” healing may call for 20 g split across the day.We explore the nuances of collagen type and quality, from type I and III for tendon, skin, and fascia integrity to type II for cartilage and joint comfort. Matthew explains how hydrolysed, bioavailable peptides stimulate fibroblast activity, remodel scar tissue, and improve movement tolerance so that manual therapy and strength training deliver better results.The conversation extends into bone health for peri- and post-menopausal women, where targeted collagen has shown measurable gains in bone density—small but powerful changes that shape long-term mobility and independence. Matthew also clears the air on athletic recovery, DOMS, and muscle support, debunking the myth that collagen is “just for beauty.”It’s a clinical roadmap that bridges rehab, recovery, and resilience:Why and when to add collagen to a care planPost-surgical healing for scars, fascia, and painSelecting types I, II, and III for clinical goalsDosing for acute and ongoing recoveryCancer rehab, cording, and restoring movementCollagen’s emerging role in bone density supportPairing collagen with whole-protein and loading for resultsCollagen isn’t a cosmetic extra - it’s protein with a purpose, especially when matched to the job. If you’re navigating surgery, tendon pain, cancer rehab, or simply want stronger bones and better training outcomes, this episode gives you the practical playbook every clinician should hear.Connect with Matthew: https://www.bouncerehab.com.au/team/Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health websiteRegister as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au Follow us on Socials Instagram: Designsforhealthaus Facebook: Designsforhealthaus DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

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• Defining “Excess” Folic Acid: Risks, Research, and Clinical Impacts with Carolyn Ledowsky

  What if the very nutrient celebrated for preventing neural tube defects is now tipping into excess, disrupting biochemistry, fuelling anxiety, and shaping the health of the next generation?In this thought-provoking conversation, clinician–researcher Carolyn Ledowsky - now nearing the end of a four-year PhD - shares her evidence-based re-evaluation of folic acid, methylfolate, and the overlooked role of men in preconception care.Carolyn unpacks why folic acid isn’t the villain, but why unchecked intake poses real risks. We explore unmetabolised folic acid and methylation bottlenecks, the stability challenges of methylfolate, and why folinic acid may offer a practical interim solution. She outlines a pragmatic public health roadmap: cap daily intake at 400–500 mcg, remove voluntary fortification to prevent hidden excess, and individualise care with methylfolate plus B12 and cofactors where needed.This conversation also delves into recurrent pregnancy loss and the striking results of tailored protocols - removing folic acid, lowering fortified foods, using methylfolate, testing MTHFR/DHFR status, and including the partner. Importantly, Carolyn brings men into focus, highlighting emerging evidence that male folate metabolism and genetics directly influence fertility and pregnancy outcomes.And in a surprising clinical insight, she reveals how elevated B6 often normalises quickly with lysine - reshaping how we think about nutrient “toxicity” in the post-viral era.If you care about smarter prenatal nutrition, realistic fortification policy, and giving couples the best chance of healthy conception, this episode provides a science-led roadmap for clinicians, policymakers, and future parents alike.Connect with Carolyn: mthfr supportRead Carolyn's Paper: Health effects of excess folic acid use and high blood folate during preconception and pregnancy: a systematic reviewShownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health websiteRegister as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au Follow us on Socials Instagram: Designsforhealthaus Facebook: Designsforhealthaus DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

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