A Naturopath's Guide to Living Your Healthiest Life
By Jessica Humphries
Meet Layla Metcalfe - a University qualified naturopath, clinical nutritionist, public speaker and health educator. A new Byron local, Layla splits her time between the big smoke and the bay, and also offers online consults. We chat about all things health, wellness, and living your best life.
Can you tell us a little about your own health journey?
I grew up with severe asthma and eczema, and was in and out of hospital and on crappy steroid medication until I was 13. Travelling I got bad Dengue fever and parasites. At 24, after a complete hormonal meltdown, we found a brain tumour on my pituitary gland making a mess of everything. I’ve always had IBS, but now I know I am a celiac, things are better. AND, in the last 4 years, Endometriosis saw me totally exhausted, in chronic pain and brought with it anxiety and depression. Thankfully that chapter is closed.
As you can see, my medical history is fairly detailed, giving me a broad range of body & mind experiences and fuelling a pretty passionate fire in me to support others who have ‘health stuff’ they want to sort out - particularly women with endometriosis.
How important is nutrition to disease management, prevention and cure?
Hugely and completely. We have to eat and food and nutrition can dictate how our body grows, heals and repairs OR on the flip side, decays and degenerates.
The human race used to die of infectious diseases which we can now control through vaccination and antibiotics (to some degree), however now we are now sick and dying from chronic illnesses that we have literally eaten our way into like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. We don’t yet have a pill to cure these illnesses but we have the potential to eat our way back out.
I don’t think there is a one size fits all model for diet and nutrition, but working with a practitioner can short cut your exploration and investigation to understanding what is best for your body and health as an individual.
What are your favourite superfoods?
HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbs have medicinal properties that can aid healing in the body. Anything from regulating hormones, increasing fertility, reducing pain, inflammation, support anxiety, depression.
A qualified practitioner can mix a blend of herbs to specifically suit the personal health needs of an individual. You dont need to be sick to use herbal medicine,. Herbs can be used to enhance the wellbeing of a healthy person also. Herbs can be grown in the garden, drunk as tea, added to salads or prepared in a more potent medicinal tincture.
Modern pharmaceutical meds began as herbal, plant medicine.
CLEAN WATER
Being hydrated is so important for all aspects of our health, cellular energy, aiding elimination of toxins, reducing inflammation.
We all drink coffee, work in aircon and don’t drink enough water. The majority of the population walks around in a state of dehydration. Being conscious of your water intake is essential in making you more conscious of the rest of your diet and nutrition habits.
Can specific foods be used to prevent and cure certain diseases?
For sure, but again, not one slipper fits every Cinderella. Certain illnesses/ conditions may benefit from some foods that could aggravate another. For example, good quality coffee is high in antioxidants, can benefit brain health and stimulate the liver, however for some may aggravate anxiety and be too aggressive on the digestive system.
In all, an antiinflammatory diet that is high in plants and veggies, lots of healthy fats and good amounts of protein is ideal.
What does your own personal diet look like?
I have tried all of the diets. Keto, vegan, raw, paleo, macro. You name it. And have learnt so much about my body and the healing power of food as medicine in the journey. I have come to a place where I know exactly what my body responds well to and am skilled at working with my patients to figure out their own personal best nutrition prescription.
I follow an antiinflammatory diet, mostly plants with lots of green veggies. These feed the microbiome, are alkalysising and antiinflammatory, aid digestion and healthy bowel movements and are full of nutrient dense vitamins and minerals. Healthy fats like fish, avo, eggs, plant oils, nuts and seeds which are also antiinflammatory, great for brain and eye health so good for mental health, concentration, memory and prevention of degenerative brain diseases, as well as heaps of high bang for your buck super foods like medicinal mushrooms and cacao. I always personally take herbal medicine as well as prescribe to all of my patients.
Food should be enjoyed, celebrated, shared and recognised as having the potential to heal or harm.
How can we ensure that we are getting the balance of nutrients needed to be as healthy as we possibly can be?
Listen to your body. Go slow with changing diet and nutrition habits. Invest in support and guidance from a qualified and experienced practitioner who can help you to find your own way, much quicker, than trial and error on your own.
For more about Layla and her offerings, head to www.laylametcalfe.com