Naturopath Michaela Sparrow reveals the REAL reasons behind common symptoms

Known as a ‘holistic approach’ to health, naturopathy is evidence based modality that utilises the latest scientific research and integrative pathology to understand the underlying causes of illness and disease.

Australian naturopath and founder of The Longevity Remedy, Michaela Sparrow, spoke to FEMAIL and provided a detailed insight into how you can remediate certain deficiencies both naturally and through supplements. 

Michaela, 32, has been in the health industry for over ten years and has been working as a qualified naturopath and certified anti-ageing practitioner for two and a half years.

‘I think there is such a big misunderstanding of what naturopaths do. Naturopathy is designed to look at the individual as a whole, and not just apply a band-aid solution to suppress symptoms,’ she explained.

‘There is no one size fits all when it comes to wellness; all people are different and your lifestyle, mental health, history, diet and genes all play a role in how an illness will impact you and your subsequent recovery.’  

Australian naturopath and founder of The Longevity Remedy, Michaela Sparrow (pictured), spoke to FEMAIL and provided a detailed insight into how you can remediate certain deficiencies naturally

Why clients choose to visit naturopaths

One of the main reasons people visit a naturopath is to treat certain health conditions that don’t seem to be improving, even after taking recommended medication.

‘If you have a chronic health condition that is not improving or is simply masking the symptoms with current treatment, I highly recommend seeing a naturopath,’ Michaela said.

‘We use nutritional medicine, dietary interventions, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals and lifestyle interventions to create a treatment plan for each individual.’

Unlike the common myth of naturopathic medicine working against western medicine, Michaela explained naturopaths happily communicate with doctors and provide suggestions to safely compliment any current or ongoing treatment a patient may be taking.

One of the main reasons people visit a naturopath is to treat certain health conditions that don’t seem to be improving, even after taking recommended medication

What you may not know naturopaths can detect

Naturopaths have access to a large range of various pathology tests that look at the underlying cause of what is occurring in your body on a biochemical level.

This specific testing can detect whether a patient is lacking certain vitamins or minerals that are essential for bodily function.

Michaela said iron is one of the most common deficiencies in woman and can be the fundamental factor of multiple symptoms.

‘Iron deficiency can cause extreme fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, restless legs, dry hair and dry skin. A deficiency during pregnancy can also impact learning and mental development in children,’ she said.

Michaela recommends supporting your health through a good diet first, then reaching for supplements if needed.

These tests can also determine if certain organs and internal bodily systems are healthy and functioning properly.

On more extreme levels, naturopaths can assist patients with certain bodily disorders or diseases.

‘I see many clients with thyroid disorders, who were barely making it through each day, and working alongside their doctors and medications I have been able to help completely transform their lives,’ Michaela explained.

How to balance your hormones naturally  

Support Optimal Liver Detoxification: Excess estrogen can be caused by poor liver clearance of estrogenic hormones and estrogenic mimicking chemicals

Ensuring your liver is working as best as it can is essential for balancing hormones naturally

Keep stress under control: Stress has significant detrimental effects on our health, in particular our hormone balance

If you are chronically stressed, then it can be hard to balance out the hormones. 

Addressing the stress and your adrenal function is important to focus on first. Support adrenal function with regular protein snacks, plenty of Vitamin C rich foods and practicing relaxation techniques (meditation, yoga, reading a book or going for a walk)

What’s Michaela’s typical day on a plate? 

Breakfast: an omelette (made with whole eggs) cooked in olive oil with spinach, rocket, red onion, garlic, salt and pepper and feta. One heaped tablespoon of sauerkraut and always a cup of milky English breakfast tea sweetened with stevia

Snack: either cherry tomatoes drizzled in olive oil with salt and pepper and a cup of home-made bone broth – sometimes Michaela also adds salmon or canned tuna to the healthy snack option

Lunch: Either dinner leftovers or a delicious salad 

Dinner: Regular dinner options include turkey bolognaise with zucchini noodles, turkey tacos with lettuce cups, a vegetable soup, a juicy steak with a huge salad, roast vegetables covered in feta with pepitas and macadamias, grilled chicken tenderloins with sautéed vegetables 

Michaela said iron is one of the most common deficiencies in woman and can be the fundamental factor of multiple symptoms

The lifestyle habits you implement to improve your overall health 

The top habits Michaela recommends to her clients include avoiding blue lights after 7pm and taking timeout for self-care.

The top habits Michaela recommends to her clients include avoiding blue lights after 7pm and taking timeout for self-care

‘Blue lights impact the production of melatonin (our sleep hormone) and disrupt circadian rhythm (our internal body clock). This can have significant and untold long term health repercussions,’ she said. 

Everyone should also aim to receive a small amount of sunlight exposure to have a ‘remarkable impact’ on the rest of the day.    

‘Go outside first thing in the morning and stand so the sunlight is hitting your eyes for a couple of minutes. This will kick-start your circadian rhythm for the day, helping to boost your energy, mood and even how well you sleep that night,’ Michaela explained. 

Taking time for self-care is also a third significant factor the implement in your daily routine and is a good way to de-stress.  

‘Self-care is not selfish. Do something nice for yourself at least once a week (the more the better) – get a massage, go out for a nice meal, go see a movie, lay on the beach, binge Netflix, whatever it is that takes you out of your stress state.’ 

What factors can cause an imbalance to our gut health?

Stress: creates inflammation in the gut wall and imbalances the microbiome 

Processed food: disrupts the balance of our microbiome by killing off many of our good bacteria and supporting the growth of bad bacteria 

Alcohol: This will have a detrimental impact on the healthy balance of bacteria and create inflammation 

Not eating enough prebiotic foods: Prebiotics are food for our microbiome and for good health it is essential we eat plenty prebiotic rich foods (lentils, oats, bananas, garlic, onion, green tea, artichokes, asparagus)

Antibiotics: Whilst antibiotics are essential for many health issues, they kill all bacteria – both the good and the bad. Studies have shown they can have harmful effects on gut bacteria up to two years after taking them

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