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Melanie's Gut Health is located in Lockleys, South Australia. Melanie may be contacted on 0408 032 037 for information on gut health workshops and Body Ecology products such as Culture Starter, Kefir Starter and fermented drinks.  She now offers colonic hydrotherapy - see page for details.

About Melanie

Melanie is a nutrition and wellbeing coach.  She has always been interested in health and nutrition, and over the years has studied nutrition, macrobiotics, yoga, ayurveda and ayurvedic cooking, shiatsu, vegan and vegetarian mastery, alkaline cooking, raw food, food combining and more.  She has studied with Donna Gates from Body Ecology, and is a certified Body Ecology coach.  She believes that good health is not possible without healing the gut and restoring the balance of good gut bacteria.  Her mission is to provide education and information on healthy eating and healthy lifestyles so that people take back control of their own health and wellbeing through a probiotic diet.

About Body Ecology

The Body Ecology Diet was developed by Donna Gates, author of the books The Body Ecology Diet and The Baby Boomer Diet.  This diet shows you how to restore and maintain the inner microbiota (or microflora) your body needs to function properly.  A probiotic diet helps eliminate or control the symptoms which rob you of the joy of living.  Drawing on her own personal experience with Candidiasis which plagued her health for years, Donna created the Body Ecology Diet, a step by step guide to eating your way to better health.  Donna teaches that the gut is the first line of defence for the immune system, so a dysfunctional gut can have serious implications for your overall health and wellbeing.

What Are Fermented Foods?

Fermented foods have been used for centuries across various cultures.  From sauerkraut in Russia, to kimchee in Korea, to vegetables buried in earthen pots by Native Americans, fermentation has been valued for hundreds of years as a method of preserving food and enhancing digestion.  When you ferment a food, you encourage the growth of "good" microorganisms, while preventing the growth of spoilage-causing microorganisms.  Fermentation often improves the biological value of foods, so it increases the nutritional value for your digestion.

Beneficial bacteria is a natural part of the food chain that ensures the foods we eat are effectively absorbed, broken down and utilised by our body.  When coupled with enzymes the effect is further enhanced.  These bacteria help break down foods and extract essential vitamins and minerals from what we consume.  They are responsible for the production of vitamins and assimilation, cholesterol metabolism, controlling glucose levels and normalising bowel motions.   The "good" bacteria help support a healthy immune system.  This is why they say "good health begins in the gut" or "all disease originates in the gut".

Why Fermented Foods?

Modern research shows that beneficial bacteria help balance the gut flora in your digestive system and reduce the level of toxic pathogens that cause ill health.  Additional research also suggests that the regular consumption of live lactobacilli bacteria can improve your gut flora and reduce the number of infections by reducing harmful bacteria. When fermented foods and drinks are incorporated into your daily regime, you will notice the health benefits, including lower cholesterol, efficient digestive functioning and a stronger immune system.  You'll be strengthening your defences and reducing the risk of future imbalances.

Fermented foods are important because they're a powerful way for you to take a proactive approach to your health.  So much of our health begins in the digestive system.  In fact, between 70% and 80% of the cells that make up your immune system reside in your gut.  By taking responsibility for your digestive health, you are potentially eliminating the root cause of so many problems you could face in the future, be they skin problems such as acne or dryness; or bowel issues like gas and bloating; heart disease or conditions as seemingly vague as mental fogginess.  Repopulating your gut with friendly, healthy bacteria is one of the most powerful things you can do for  yourself and your family.  Fermenting your own foods is cheap and fun - much cheaper than medical treatments and medications.

Workshops
If you suffer from bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, IBS, candida overgrowth, flatulence or other digestive problems, or if you are exhausted and overweight, the Body Ecology way of eating may help you.  Come along to a workshop to learn the Body Ecology way of eating, so you may restore and maintain the inner ecology your body needs to function properly and to eliminate or control these symptoms.  See workshop page for details.