What if your gut symptoms aren’t about what you’re taking, but who you’re feeding?

Gut change doesn’t start with a supplement aisle sweep. It starts with the small but mighty species running your internal ecosystem. In this episode, functional naturopath Dan Sippel joins us to unpack how keystone bacteria shape gut barrier integrity, immune tolerance and metabolic health, and why the right polyphenols, fibres and bile acids can stabilise a volatile gut without triggering flare-ups.

We explore short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, as the microbiome’s currency, influencing inflammation, insulin sensitivity and even brain signaling. Dan shares a laddered strategy for IBS- and SIBO-prone patients: start with low-aggravation polyphenols like pomegranate peel and green tea to lift Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium; introduce partially hydrolysed guar gum as tolerance improves; then progress to resistant starch once the gut lining calms. Along the way, we break down cross-feeding, when direct butyrate makes sense, and why single-strain probiotics only work when you know the strain’s job.

We also dive into bile acids as the missing link in many stuck cases, including constipation, fat maldigestion, hormone symptoms and perimenopause transitions. You’ll learn how dysbiosis disrupts primary-to-secondary bile acid conversion and how to run a practical gut oil change using choleretics, ox bile or TUDCA. Plus, we cover iron repletion without microbiome damage, the role of sleep and melatonin in T-reg signaling, vagal tone support with L-theanine and kava, and a simple daily polyphenol five you can rotate with patients: cacao, blueberries, pomegranate, raw carrot and green tea.

If you’ve cycled through fibres, probiotics and antimicrobials without lasting results, this conversation offers a sequence that sticks. Build the terrain first, protect keystone species, match fibres to the phase, and retest to prove progress as SCFAs rise and inflammation falls.

Connect with Dan: The Functional Naturopath

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Why isn’t your acne responding, no matter how “clean” your skincare routine is?

In this eye-opening episode, skin specialist nutritionist Jacinta Barbagallo shares why stubborn breakouts rarely start on the skin’s surface—and why real solutions lie far deeper. Together, we explore the three root causes of acne: retention keratosis, hypersebum secretion, and skin pH imbalance, and the surprising internal drivers behind them, from nutrient deficiencies and cortisol surges to gut dysfunction and metabolic imbalances.

Jacinta unpacks how to go beyond surface-level treatment with targeted clinical tools like strategic blood testing (e.g. SHBG, fasting glucose, insulin, hormone panels) and foundational nutritional strategies, including 30g of protein per meal, omega fatty acid balance, and key herbal medicines like burdock, Oregon grape, and peony licorice.

Most importantly, she reframes what progress really looks like. With hormones taking months to recalibrate and skin cells needing 6–8 weeks to renew, Jacinta shares what signs to look for along the way, like faster breakout recovery and reduced inflammation.

Whether you're navigating your own skin challenges or supporting clients through theirs, this episode offers a comprehensive and empowering roadmap to finally understanding what your skin is trying to tell you.

Connect with Jacinta

Discover the Clear Skin Blueprint

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Can modern qPCR technology truly deliver accurate, trustworthy results for your patients?

In this episode, we delve into the world of qPCR stool testing, with Dr Tom Fabian unravelling the common myths surrounding its validity and reliability.

Throughout the episode, we explore the scientific evidence that underpins qPCR stool testing, addressing misconceptions and highlighting its role in clinical decision-making.

Listeners will gain insights into the types of conditions that qPCR stool testing can effectively uncover and get an insight into the interpretation of test results, offering practical tips on integrating qPCR stool testing into routine clinical assessments.

The episode also covers technological advancements that enhance test accuracy and reliability, demonstrating its effectiveness in clinical practice.

Whether you're a seasoned healthcare professional or new to the field, this episode offers a deep dive into how qPCR stool testing can enhance patient care and decision-making, leaving you well-informed and equipped with the knowledge to make confident diagnostic choices.

Meet Dr Tom Fabian, PhD

Dr. Fabian is a leading expert on the role of the microbiome in health, immune function, chronic disease, and aging.

As a translational scientist, his primary focus is on the clinical application of microbiome research in the integrative and functional medicine space. He received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has worked as a biomedical researcher in the biotechnology industry, and more recently, as a consultant in the microbiome testing field.

Currently, Dr. Fabian serves a consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, and he is also a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health. In addition, he is certified as a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner by the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver.

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

In this episode, Dr Brad Leech shares the exclusive results of his PhD research, which produced the first comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for intestinal permeability.

Dispelling common myths about "leaky gut syndrome," Dr Leech explains why intestinal hyperpermeability is a legitimate physiological reaction—not a syndrome—and how his meticulously developed, evidence-based guidelines can transform clinical practice.

This episode provides invaluable insights into the following:

• The rigorous methodology behind developing clinical practice guidelines, including stakeholder engagement, comprehensive literature review, and systematic evaluation of over 10,000 research articles
• The critical importance of risk-of-bias assessment when evaluating research—a cornerstone of methodology that helps practitioners look beyond cherry-picked studies and misleading claims
• How to systematically evaluate research quality by examining randomization procedures, analysis methods, conflict of interests and clinical relevance rather than accepting published findings at face value
• Surprising findings about commonly used interventions in intestinal permeability, including evidence that certain probiotics may not be effective for NSAID-induced permeability despite their widespread recommendation
• Evidence-based assessment of treatments for intestinal permeability using the NHMRC grading matrix to evaluate research quality
• Practical recommendations and evidence-supported interventions that meet the threshold for clinical relevance

Dr Leech's work represents a significant advancement in the field, bringing scientific rigour to an area often clouded by opinion and marketing claims.

Learn how these new guidelines can help you make more informed clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes through evidence-based approaches to intestinal permeability.

Connect with Dr Leech: Dr Brad Leech

Read: The IP Guideline

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not inten

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Why Women Are More Vulnerable—and What You Can Do Clinically

Could histamine intolerance be the hidden driver behind your patient’s anxiety, bloating, headaches, or skin flares? In this episode, nutritionist and epigenetics expert Zelda Graham breaks down the complex interplay between histamine, methylation dysfunction, gut health, and hormonal imbalances—especially in women.

You’ll gain critical insights into the role of DAO and HNMT enzymes, estrogen’s impact on histamine load, and why symptoms often worsen during ovulation and perimenopause.

Zelda also shares clinical strategies to identify and address root causes like mould exposure, gut dysbiosis, and methylation SNPS—plus targeted therapies using nutrients like quercetin, NAC, liposomal glutathione, and calcium D-glucarate.

This episode is essential listening for practitioners managing complex, multisystem female presentations—from hormone imbalances to unresolved histamine-related inflammation.

Connect with Zelda:

Website: www.byronhealthandnutrition.com

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Is Ubiquinol the Missing Nutrient for Lifelong Heart Health?

In this eye-opening episode of Wellness by Designs, Dr Ross Walker, a renowned cardiologist with 25 years dedicated to preventative medicine, challenges the conventional approach to heart disease, statins and cholesterol management. Central to the discussion is ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10, essential for mitochondrial energy production and a powerful antioxidant. Dr Walker explains how our natural production of ubiquinol begins declining around age 30 and drops sharply by 50, contributing to fatigue and reduced cardiovascular resilience.

Dr Walker explores why many patients with “normal” cholesterol still develop significant coronary artery disease, arguing that coronary calcium scoring offers a far superior risk assessment tool than standard cholesterol tests. Dr Walker also addresses statin-associated muscle symptoms, recommending 150 mg of ubiquinol daily for statin users, citing research showing a 50% reduction in muscle problems, and up to 300 mg for those with heart failure to support cardiac function and endothelial health.

From mitochondrial health to protection against oxidative stress, this episode highlights why ubiquinol may be a cornerstone in maintaining cardiovascular wellness and why a more personalised, evidence-based approach is needed to truly prevent heart disease.

Connect with Dr Walker: Home - Dr Ross Walker

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

What if the key to growing your clinic online isn’t posting more - but posting with purpose?

In this episode, we sit down with naturopath and strategist Rebecca Talia to explore a calmer, more strategic way for healthcare practitioners to show up on social media. Instead of chasing trends or feeling pressured to be perfect, Rebecca reframes social platforms as a living extension of your website, a place where prospective clients can hear your voice, understand your values, and get a sense of how you work.

We unpack the fears that keep many clinicians silent: worrying about saying the “wrong” thing, looking unpolished, or being judged by peers. Rebecca replaces those fears with clarity of purpose - educate, connect, and invite.

From there, we map the boundaries that make authenticity sustainable: what to keep private, how to protect your family and location, and why trust does not require vulnerability that feels unsafe or misaligned. You’ll learn how a simple cadence of one to three posts per week is enough to build momentum, and how consistency outperforms volume every time.

Then we move into the practical framework practitioners can start using today. Attraction posts help new people find you through plain-language education and myth-busting. Nurture posts deepen trust with behind-the-scenes process and de-identified case insights. Conversion posts offer clear, low-pressure invitations - book a discovery call, download a resource, or join an upcoming workshop. Rebecca also explains how “giving” content like recipes and checklists boosts saves and shares, expanding your reach so your invitations land with the right audience.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by algorithms, trends, or the pressure to overshare, this conversation brings relief, clarity, and an actionable roadmap. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a confidence boost, and let us know the one shift you’ll make in your posting routine.

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health

What if the key to calming autoimmunity isn’t stronger suppression, but a clearer conversation between your gut and your immune system?

In this episode, we sit down with integrative and functional medicine nutritionist Vanessa Vanderhoek to explore how microbiome shifts, barrier breakdown, and nervous system stress converge into autoimmune flares, and how the GI-MAP can transform complexity into a clear, safe plan.

We unpack the clinical significance of dysbiosis patterns such as Klebsiella and Prevotella, the risks signalled by depleted keystone species like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and what these patterns reveal about conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, and juvenile arthritis. You’ll learn how to interpret zonulin for leaky gut, use secretory IgA highs and lows as action points, and rely on calprotectin and occult blood as decisive markers for medical referral.

Vanessa brings the science to life with real cases: an ulcerative colitis patient who avoided bowel resection by making one well-timed dietary shift; a rare and painful skin condition that settled once triggers were removed and the mucosa repaired; and a case of severe bloating that revealed the early clues of scleroderma, guiding faster diagnosis and a clear path forward. Throughout, we highlight the principles of precision and pacing, building plans that align with a client’s readiness, capacity, and budget so meaningful change actually sticks.

We also address the often-overlooked driver: vagus nerve dysfunction and chronic stress. When the sympathetic system takes over, digestion stalls, sIgA drops, and tolerance erodes. Vanessa walks us through the simple rituals that restore regulation, sitting to eat, slower chewing, pre-meal breathing, and the nutrients that rebuild the mucosal barrier, including vitamins A, D and E, and zinc. Safety threads through the entire conversation: co-managing with GPs, repeating calprotectin when indicated, and cross-checking protocols with immunosuppressant medications.

If you’re looking for fewer flares, shorter recovery times, and more agency in autoimmune care, this episode gives you a grounded, clinically relevant roadmap. Subscribe, share with a practitioner friend, and let us know your biggest takeaway.

Connect Vanessa:

• • Vanessa's podcast Thrive Forward: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-thrive-forward-podcast/id1806055391
  • Youtube

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


Register as a Designs for Health Practitioner and discover quality practitioner- only supplements at www.designsforhealth.com.au

Follow us on Socials

Instagram: Designsforhealthaus

Facebook: Designsforhealthaus

DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health