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Health Perspective with Varsha

Hello! Thank you for stopping by. My name is Varsha and I am the founder of Illuminated Health. I am a qualified nutritionist and ayurveda consultant who specialises in women's health, type 2 diabetes and digestive wellbeing. I love what I do so much that I am currently a PhD researcher in Food Innovation and Sustainable Nutrition. In my newsletters, I like to keep it real and practical. I love to share my knowledge and experience with all things related to holistic health. You will also hear about my student journey and my family. I love hearing from my readers, so please do say hi once you have subscribed! Wishing you health and happiness, Varsha

Featured Post

Ovaries as innocent bystanders

Hello Reader Today, I have a bit of a longer read for you (hence sending it later in the day), so perhaps sit down with a cup of tea or beverage of your choice and really take the time to read this newsletter. I want you to picture this: Imagine going to a car garage because your car’s engine is overheating, smoking, and stalling out on the motorway. The mechanic opens the hood, looks right past the failing radiator and the leaking coolant, points to a tiny bit of condensation on the...

Hello Reader Now that we have covered the foundation of inflammation and hormones, PCOS, and perimenopause, it is time to cover menopause itself. Menopause is officially marked by a full year without a period and this is where the hormonal landscape shifts permanently. In wellness culture, menopause is often framed purely as an aging issue or something that is challenging to navigate. But the truth is, the way you feel post-menopause comes down to how well you protect your brain, bones, and...

Hello Reader Before I get into today's newsletter, I wanted to mention that my student still needs more people to participate in her survey about how social media influences health perceptions and consumption of Moringa and Matcha drinks among South Asian women living in London. If you meet the eligibility criteria, please do take some time to complete the survey to support her research: Research Participants Needed Now, as a nutritionist, lecturer, and researcher, do you know what really...

Hello Reader Happy Monday! If you have hit your late 30s or are in your 40s and suddenly feel like your body is on fire, waking up with aching joints, sudden brain fog, skin sensitivity, or unexpected anxiety, then you are not losing your mind. You are experiencing the perimenopause flare. For decades, oestrogen acted as your body’s natural, built-in anti-inflammatory shield. As oestrogen levels begin to fluctuate and drop during perimenopause, that shield is pulled away and that can lead to...

Hello Reader Before I go into today's topic, one of my students that I am supervising needs your help with her research for her dissertation. If you meet the criteria to participate, please do take some time to help her out. Here is a message from her: My name is Manasi Mahesh Tagade, and I am an MSc Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing student at the University of West London. I am currently conducting research for my dissertation on how social media influences health perceptions and consumption...

Hello Reader For years, women have been told that PCOS is purely an "ovary problem" or that there is nothing that can be done or that they need to try and find an approach that works. But now modern science and Ayurveda agree on something much deeper which is that PCOS/PMOS is at the core, an inflammatory condition. If you struggle with irregular cycles, stubborn adult acne, unexpected hair growth, or feeling constantly tired, then read on. What is Happening Inside Your Ovaries As you learned...

Hello Reader Not all supplements are created equal. Recently, a school mum asked me to look over a popular "hair, skin, and nails" formula she had been taking for months. It was a generic brand you can buy at almost any high-street pharmacy and also one that even GPs frequently recommend. As a nutritionist, I looked at the list of vitamins and turned the packaging around to read the full ingredients list. (Yes, supplements have an ingredients list, too!) Here is what I found: The very first...

Hello Reader Good morning and happy Monday! This month, we are diving into a topic that gets thrown around a lot in the wellness industry that is also often misunderstood, which is inflammation. It is often talked about like it's something evil. Something we need to fight, stop, or erase. But here is the truth. Inflammation is not inherently bad. It is actually your body's built-in emergency response team. Inflammation means something, but the problem is when you ignore it. When you cut your...

Hello Reader One of the modern wellness trends that just keeps resurfacing is counting. Whether it is counting steps, counting calories, counting grams of protein, or counting hours of sleep, our current health culture seems obsessed with numbers. So many people wear smartwatches or fitness trackers to monitor their daily steps and sleep quality. Some are even fancier and track your "body battery," pulse, heart rate, pulse Ox and so much more. But I always have to ask: What are you actually...

Hello Reader Routine is everything. One fundamental principle of Ayurveda is that if Vata stays in balance, the other doshas are more likely to stay balanced. Your ovarian health depends on your daily rhythm. If you struggle with irregular cycles, cystic ovaries, unwanted facial hair, adult acne, or any of the other frustrating symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), then we need to get your body back into balance. Confused Ovaries Your ovaries rely on precise, timed pulses of hormones...

Hello Reader If you follow me on LinkedIn, you may have come across my post about AI (artificial intelligence). This type of intelligence is exactly what the name says - it is artificial and superficial, at least in my opinion. No doubt there is a place for AI, but not when it comes to your wellbeing. Do you remember how health care professionals say "don't trust google" or "dr. google is not always right?" Well, the same goes for AI. Definitely DO NOT trust AI with your health and AI is...