Have you ever wondered why you feel hungry or full at different times of the day? Appetite is a complex and personal experience that is influenced by various factors. Hunger is the primary driver and is controlled by hormones that stimulate or suppress appetite. To fully understand how our appetite works, we need to take a closer look at the biological, psychological, and environmental factors that shape it.

Social media can be a difficult place to navigate when it comes to our body image and relationship with food. The internet is filled with unvetted information and it can be overwhelming to know what to believe and absorb.

The health of our gut is important to our quality of life and impacts our energy levels and emotional wellbeing. One of the most important processes that occurs in the gut is digestion. See how regular yoga practice can play a part in assisting digestion.

The consumption of free sugars in moderation is not harmful. However, free sugars are energy dense and increase the energy intake of the overall diet. Many individuals consume more sugar than the recommended daily intake without realising. The food industry incorporates free sugars into almost all processed foods, such as sauces and ready meals that are consumed daily in the typical Western diet. The excessive consumption of free sugars in food makes maintaining a healthy body weight more difficult. In addition, it has been linked to chronic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) refers to the psychological and physical symptoms some women may experience in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (1 to 2 weeks prior to the onset of a period). Symptoms usually last a few days and disappear with the onset of menstruation. Approximately 47.8% of women of reproductive age globally are affected by PMS. In 20% of cases, symptoms are severe and can cause significant disruption to a woman’s daily life.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting over 10% of the population. IBS impairs quality of life and can make social situations difficult. Therefore, individuals with IBS are more susceptible to anxiety, depressive symptoms and stress.

Although much has been talked about IBS in recent years, very few health professionals bring to attention the possible causes that underlie its collection of symptoms. It is widely known that stress and anxiety are some of the main triggers for most individuals but food poisoning is another leading known cause of IBS.