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Anxiety? Meet My Garden (and My Kettle)
Gardeners are happy people. As my strongest piece of evidence, I present to you, Costa Georgiadis. Right?! If you’ve ever calmed down...
Esther Parker
Jun 263 min read


The ADHD Snack That Instantly Boosted My Focus
Living with ADHD is like having 42 tabs open in your brain, with music playing on one of them—but you don’t know which. Nutrition won’t make you neurotypical (and who wants that?), but it can support focus, energy and emotional steadiness. Brains Like Fuel Too People with ADHD often skip meals, crave sugar, and then crash hard. It’s not laziness—it’s low dopamine, poor appetite cues, and executive dysfunction. Top Foods for Focus Protein at breakfast : Eggs, tofu, oats + nut
Esther Parker
Jun 191 min read


Healthy Comfort Food: Warm, Satisfying Meals Without the Crash
First thing's first... no food should come with guilt. You need that cake or pizza? You have it. Guilt and shame are learned behaviours that don't naturally come from food, they are taught to us and make us attribute negative feelings to foods or habits. There's a lot of support you can get to help you manage these patterns, often in psychology or counselling. But for now, assuming we're not talking big trauma, but rather a pesky 'food is my safety blanket and sometimes I ove
Esther Parker
Jun 123 min read


Still Tired After Sleeping In? Here’s What Your Body Is Telling You
You’ve had a lie-in. The curtains are drawn. Your cat has already judged you for still being in bed. And yet… you feel like a half-deflated lilo. Why? Because sleep isn’t just about how long you sleep—it’s about how well you sleep. And yes, nutrition plays a surprisingly large role. What’s Eating Your Sleep? Culprits include late-night screen time, stress, blood sugar crashes, magnesium deficiency, wine disguised as a “nightcap,” and poor sleep hygiene (no, that doesn’t mea
Esther Parker
Jun 52 min read


Anti-Inflammatory Eating: Daily Foods That Quiet Stress and Pain
Inflammation often gets a bad rap, but it’s not always the enemy. Acute inflammation is a natural and necessary response to injury or infection – it helps us heal. But chronic, low-grade inflammation is another story. This silent internal fire can smoulder for years, contributing to a wide range of health issues: from joint pain and hormone imbalance to depression, digestive disorders, frequent headaches, poor sleep and even chronic stress. ' The good news? We all have the po
Esther Parker
May 296 min read


The One Sleep Habit That Changes Everything: Consistency
Being passionate about sleep, means I go back to talking about it whenever I can. Today, I want to discuss something I talk about with clients all the time. Sleep consistency. Quality and quantity is important, but being consistent is essential. We often think of sleep in terms of quantity—“Did I get my eight hours?”—but the consistency of our sleep habits is just as important as the amount. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends, may sound l
Esther Parker
May 225 min read


Fast Ferments: Quick Gut-Healing Foods You Can Make Today
From bubbling kombucha to the satisfying crunch of homemade pickles, fermentation has stood the test of time. It’s not only a traditional method of preserving food but also one that may offer impressive benefits for your digestive health—when enjoyed in moderation* (I'll come back to this). Let’s dive into the world of fermenting: what it is, how it works, why it’s good for the gut, and how you can make your own gut-loving sauerkraut at home with just two ingredients! What is
Esther Parker
May 154 min read


Telehealth Truths: When Online Consults Work (and When They Don’t)
Telehealth has become a prominent feature in healthcare over the past few years, particularly since the dreaded virus who shall not be named, fast-tracked the adoption of virtual services. While many Australians have embraced the convenience of online health consultations, some are unsure. Is telehealth just a stop-gap, or could it be a permanent part of your health journey? If you're weighing up whether to book an online consultation or face to face, here are some key advant
Esther Parker
May 84 min read


ADHD Night Routine Hacks: Sleep Strategies That Work for Kids and Adults
If you or your child have ADHD, you’ll know that winding down at night isn’t always as simple as just "getting into bed early." Oof, even just saying that can set your teeth on edge, with visions of lying awake, frustrated and very awake. ADHD brains are wired differently, making transitions, quieting mental chatter, and feeling sleepy at the “right” time a real challenge. The good news? With the right routine, you can help set up smoother evenings, better sleep quality, and
Esther Parker
May 14 min read


Healthy Eating Without the Hype: How to Eat Well Most of the Time
Let’s face it—when it comes to healthy eating, there’s a lot of noise out there. Like, A LOT. It takes away from the common sense...
Esther Parker
Apr 244 min read


Why Japan Is One of the Healthiest Countries — And What You Can Copy
It feels like everyone (in Australia, anyway) is going to Japan. And why not? The skiing, the cherry blossoms, the food, the shopping, the cultural events - it's almost overwhelming how rish the culture and experiences are for such a (relatively) small place. Japan is one of the most visited places in the world right now, but did you know it's also one of the healthiest? Let's talk a little about the Okinawans, and how their world-famous longevity is strongly connected to nut
Esther Parker
Apr 175 min read


Healthy Eating on a Budget: The Smart Shopper’s Guide to Real Food
With the rising cost of living, putting healthy food (or sometimes any food) on the table can feel like an uphill battle. But eating well doesn’t have to break the bank. By making small, sustainable choices, you can nourish yourself and your family while saving money and reducing waste. Some of these ideas take time and passion - like gardening for instance - but they offer long lasting benefits not only for your body and wallet, but also your mental health. Here’s are some w
Esther Parker
Apr 105 min read


L-Theanine for ADHD: Does It Really Improve Focus and Calm?
I've talked a few times about ADHD, because I love it. There are so many strengths to having ADHD - creativity, energy, engagement - and I hope we work towards celebrating this type of brain, a lot more. Rather than a brain imperfection, sometimes societal structures are just not set up for neurodiverse people. When this happens, the traits of 'inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive' become a problematic side of the same ADHD characteristics (just in different contexts). One dow
Esther Parker
Apr 34 min read


ADHD Night Routines: How to Switch Off a Busy Brain Before Bed
For folks with ADHD, night-time can feel like an uphill battle. The mind races, distractions creep in, and despite exhaustion, falling asleep often seems impossible. Parents with ADHD kids know the struggle of bed-time, and tiredness the next day. Poor sleep can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, making focus, emotional regulation, and overall well-being more challenging, day after day. Creating a structured night-time routine tailored for ADHD can make a significant difference in pro
Esther Parker
Mar 274 min read


Alcohol vs Sleep: The Real Reason You Wake Up at 3am
This is not an easy topic to talk about for a lot of people. It is a sensitive area and I always tread carefully in clinic when I bring up the topic of alcohol with my clients. Many people enjoy 'a nightcap to wind down' before bed, believing that alcohol helps them sleep. For others, alcohol is a much-needed coping mechanism for difficult parts of their life. It may be the only thing that relieves them of their pain - physical or mental. While it may feel like a sedative in
Esther Parker
Mar 204 min read


The Truth About Supplements: What’s Worth Buying (and What’s Dangerous)
If you're a millennial in Australia (aka, old enough to have some cash and some interest in your health), chances are you've dabbled in the world of supplements. Whether it's a protein powder to boost gym gains, a greens powder to make up for a few too many takeaway meals, or a nootropic promising laser-sharp focus, the supplement industry has made sure there's something for everyone. But before you drop another $50 on a trendy new capsule, let's talk about the risks. The Thr
Esther Parker
Mar 133 min read


Gut Health and Mood (Part 4): Recipes for a Healthy Gut
Part 4 seems like the right time for two things - practical advice, and ending this short series! I wanted to conclude on some solid ways...
Esther Parker
Mar 65 min read


Gut Health and Mood (Part 3): ADHD, Sleep and Stress
Image from RWAPsych Welcome to Part 3! How many parts will there be? Who knows. But I think we're near the end, certainly for the time...
Esther Parker
Feb 274 min read


Gut Health and Mood (Part 2): More on the Microbiome
Lactobacillus spp. from Gut Microbiota for Health We often think of bacteria as harmful invaders, the cause of infections, the nasty...
Esther Parker
Feb 205 min read


Gut Health and Mood (Part 1): The Surprising Link Between Your Belly and Your Brain
I'm a bit embarrased to know that I haven't written much on this topic so far, considering how important it is to my practice! I plan to...
Esther Parker
Feb 134 min read
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