Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about gut health, thyroid function, SIBO, hormone balance, or nutrition support during perimenopause? These FAQs answer the questions I hear most from clients in Sydney and online.
Learn evidence-based strategies, natural approaches, and personalised nutrition guidance to reduce symptoms, support digestion, and restore energy — all rooted in clinical expertise and lived experience.
What is the best natural approach for perimenopause?
The best natural approach for perimenopause focuses on supporting hormone balance through nutrition, gut health and stable blood sugar. Eating fibre-rich whole foods, adequate protein and healthy fats can help regulate metabolism, support the microbiome and reduce inflammation during hormonal changes.
As a Clinical Nutritionist, I work with women to support gut health, nutrient status and metabolic balance during perimenopause. Personalised nutrition strategies can help manage symptoms such as fatigue, digestive changes, sleep disruption and weight gain while supporting long-term health.
Can nutrition help improve gut health and bloating?
Yes. Nutrition plays a key role in improving gut health and reducing bloating by supporting digestion, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and reducing inflammation in the digestive system.
Many digestive symptoms are linked to imbalances in the gut microbiome, food intolerances or conditions such as SIBO.
Through personalised nutrition strategies, meal structure and targeted nutrients, I help clients restore gut balance and improve digestive comfort.
What foods support hormone balance naturally?
Foods that support hormone balance include fibre-rich vegetables, healthy fats, quality protein, fermented foods and antioxidant-rich plants. These nutrients support gut bacteria, blood sugar balance and hormone metabolism.
The gut microbiome plays an important role in hormone regulation through processes such as estrogen metabolism.
A personalised nutrition plan can help support hormonal balance, particularly during perimenopause and metabolic changes.
Can gut health affect skin conditions like rosacea?
Yes. Gut health and skin health are closely connected through the gut–skin axis, where digestive imbalance and inflammation can influence skin conditions such as rosacea or acne.
Imbalances in the gut microbiome, including SIBO, may contribute to inflammation that affects the skin.
Supporting digestion and microbiome balance through nutrition can often help improve both gut symptoms and skin health.
What is SIBO and can nutrition help manage it?
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) occurs when excessive bacteria grow in the small intestine, often causing bloating, gas, digestive discomfort and irregular bowel habits. Nutrition strategies can help manage symptoms and support gut balance.
As a practitioner trained in SIBO protocols, I work with clients to implement targeted dietary strategies and gut-supportive nutrients that help restore digestive balance and reduce symptoms.
Can nutrition support thyroid health?
Yes. Nutrition can support thyroid health by ensuring the body receives key nutrients needed for metabolism, hormone production and energy regulation.
Nutrients such as selenium, zinc, iodine, iron and B vitamins play important roles in thyroid function. Clinical nutrition can help optimise nutrient status, support gut health and improve overall wellbeing alongside medical treatment.
Why is gut health important for overall health?
Gut health influences digestion, immune function, hormone balance and nutrient absorption. A balanced gut microbiome helps regulate inflammation and supports many systems in the body.
When the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced, symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, skin issues and metabolic disruption can occur. Supporting gut health through personalised nutrition is often the foundation of long-term wellbeing.
How can a Clinical Nutritionist help with digestive issues?
A Clinical Nutritionist assesses diet, lifestyle, symptoms and health history to identify possible root causes of digestive issues. From there, a personalised nutrition plan is developed to support gut healing and improve digestion.
This approach may include dietary adjustments, gut-supportive nutrients and lifestyle strategies that help restore microbiome balance and reduce inflammation in the digestive system.
Do I need testing to improve my gut health?
Not always. Many people can improve gut health through targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes without specialised testing.
However, in some cases functional tests such as stool analysis or breath tests for SIBO may provide deeper insight into microbiome imbalances and help guide more personalised nutrition strategies.
What happens in a Clinical Nutrition consultation?
A clinical nutrition consultation involves a comprehensive review of your health history, symptoms, diet and lifestyle.
Based on this assessment, you receive personalised nutrition guidance and practical steps to support your health goals.
My consultations focus on realistic and sustainable changes that support gut health, metabolism and overall wellbeing.
Sessions are available online, making it easy to access support wherever you are.
What does a clinical nutritionist actually do?
A clinical nutritionist looks at your symptoms, health history, current diet, medications and pathology together, and builds a nutrition strategy around what is realistic for you. Ola is an Accredited Member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society and works alongside your GP, not instead of them.
Do you consult in person in Cammeray, or online?
Every consultation is online, by video, anywhere in Australia. The practice is based in Cammeray on Sydney's Lower North Shore.
What happens in the free 15 minute health assessment?
A short call to talk through your main concerns, ask questions about consultations, programs or testing, and work out which one is the right next step. It does not include a clinical assessment, a nutrition plan, a pathology review or supplement recommendations.
How much is an initial consultation?
An initial nutrition consultation is A$225 and runs for 90 minutes. Follow-up consultations are A$115. A personalised 7-day meal plan is A$160.
Can nutrition support help with SIBO?
Nutrition support cannot replace medical care for SIBO, and it is not a substitute for testing or for your doctor's plan. What it can do is shape what you eat during each phase, support digestion and motility, and help you rebuild afterwards. Ola is a SIBO-Certified Nutritionist trained through Dr Nirala Jacobi's SIBO Mastery Program.
Do I need a breath test before booking?
No. Many people book first and organise testing afterwards, and some already have results from their GP or gastroenterologist. If a breath test would be useful, that is something to discuss in your consultation.
Which Microba test should I choose?
That depends on your symptoms and what has already been investigated. Essentials, Extended and Comprehensive differ in how much they report on gastrointestinal health markers. The comparison page walks through each one, and the free 15 minute assessment exists so you do not have to guess.
Can you support thyroid health through nutrition?
Nutrition support is available for medically diagnosed Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism and health after thyroid surgery. The focus is on nutrients involved in thyroid function, gut health and reading your pathology alongside your symptoms. It sits alongside the care your doctor provides, including any medication.
Is nutrition support useful during perimenopause?
Many women find that digestion, energy, sleep and body composition all shift at once during perimenopause, and that the usual advice stops fitting. Perimenopause nutrition support looks at gut health, protein intake, thyroid function and iron together rather than one at a time.
Do you speak Polish?
Yes. Ola is Polish-Australian and consults in both English and Polish.
What do I need to have ready before my first consultation?
Any recent pathology results, a list of your current medications and supplements, and a rough sense of what you eat in a typical week. If you do not have pathology, that is fine, and it is something we can discuss.
How soon will I notice anything?
That varies a great deal between people and depends on what is going on, so it is not something anyone can honestly promise in advance. What is reasonable to expect is a clear plan after the first consultation and a review at your follow-up.
If you have any questions or want personalised guidance, please contact me today.
I’m here to help you support your gut health, balance your hormones, and feel your best with evidence-based, practical nutrition strategies.