Are Your Symptoms Trying to Tell You Something?

Stress is about so much more than feeling overwhelmed. It can influence your nervous system, digestion, energy levels and overall health. In this episode of Love Mia Naturopathy, we're exploring acute versus chronic stress, what happens in your body during fight-or-flight, how stress impacts gut health and digestion, and practical ways to support nervous system regulation. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: Acute vs chronic stress and how the stress response works

Naturopathy 101: What Actually Happens When You See a Naturopath? What actually happens when you see a naturopath? You might assume you come in with a symptom, get given a handful of supplements and go home. But naturopathy is about so much more than that. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a naturopathic consultation and how I approach understanding your symptoms and the bigger picture of your health. We’ll explore: Your health history and timeline and why understanding when and how your symptoms started matters.

If you’re constantly bloated, struggling to have a bowel movement, going days without pooping or relying on laxatives to keep things moving, this episode is for you. Constipation is one of the most common gut symptoms I see in clinic and one of the most misunderstood. Because while you’ll often be told to “eat more fibre and drink more water,” constipation isn’t always as simple as that. In this episode of Love Mia Naturopathy, we’re talking about the real causes of constipation, including: → Gut motility and why your bowel may not be moving things through efficiently → The connection between constipation, the nervous system and stress → Fibre: when it can help and when adding more may actually make you feel worse → Meal spacing, the gastrocolic reflex and the migrating motor complex → The gut microbiome and why methane/IMO can be relevant in chronic constipation → When gut testing may actually be worth considering → How thyroid function, your menstrual cycle and hormones can influence bowel movements → The specific things you can start doing to support regular bowel movements → Why constipation is about much more than simply “how often you go” We also talk about why I don’t believe in throwing another supplement or probiotic at constipation without understanding WHY it’s happening in the first place. If you’ve tried fibre, magnesium, probiotics, drinking more water and “eating healthier” but your gut still isn’t moving properly, this is an episode you’ll want to listen to.

How to Treat Acne Naturally: 7 Foundations I Look At as a Naturopath What if your skin isn't the problem, but the symptom? When I work with clients experiencing acne, breakouts or hormonal skin, I don't start by asking which supplement or skincare product we can add. I want to understand what is happening underneath the skin and across the body as a whole. In this episode, I’m walking you through my 7-part framework for approaching skin health naturopathically, including the key systems I assess before jumping into a targeted skin protocol. We’ll explore: Gut health and elimination why regular bowel movements, digestion, the microbiome and gut inflammation can all be relevant when supporting skin health.

What if you could go back and talk to your 16-year-old self about health? There are so many things I understand now about gut health, food, movement, stress and women’s health that I wish I had known when I was younger. In this episode, I’m sharing 7 health lessons I wish I could tell my 16-year-old self and honestly, they’re lessons I think a lot of women in their twenties need to hear too. We’re talking about: 1. You don’t need to fit into a perfect wellness box Being healthy doesn’t mean having the perfect diet, morning routine or lifestyle. Your health needs to fit into your actual life. 2. If you move your body from a place of hate, your motivation will eventually die Exercise shouldn’t be punishment for eating, gaining weight or not liking your body. We talk about creating a healthier relationship with movement. 3. If coffee makes you run to the bathroom, it might be time to look at your gut Coffee can naturally stimulate bowel movements, but ongoing urgency, diarrhoea, cramping or digestive symptoms are worth understanding rather than simply working around. 4. Your symptoms are not isolated issues Bloating, acne, constipation, fatigue, painful periods and other symptoms can be connected. Your body doesn’t operate in separate departments. 5. Don’t underestimate the power of your nervous system Stress, sleep, digestion and the nervous system are deeply connected and sometimes improving your health isn’t about adding another supplement. 6. Food restriction is not the answer to your gut issues Removing more and more foods might feel like you're taking control, but the goal of gut health should ultimately be more flexibility, not a smaller and smaller list of foods you feel safe eating. 7. Advocate for your health again and again You know your body. You deserve to ask questions, seek answers and keep advocating for yourself when something doesn’t feel right. This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to become the “perfect wellness girl” to be healthy. You can care about your gut health, hormones and wellbeing while still having a social life, enjoying food, moving your body because you love it and living a life that actually feels like yours. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still don’t feel like yourself, this one is for you.