FerFit Dietetics and Nutrition

The Little Red Powerhouse: Can Barberries Really Lower Blood Pressure and Inflammation? ❤️🌿

Ever noticed those tiny red berries in Persian rice dishes? They’re called barberries — and they might do more than add flavour!

Recent studies suggest that barberries (Berberis vulgaris) could help support heart health, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. In one clinical trial, people with high blood pressure who consumed barberries showed better blood pressure, improved cholesterol, and reduced inflammation over time (1). Another study confirmed their anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting effects (2).

So, what’s behind the magic? The secret is berberine, a natural compound that helps your body balance blood sugar, reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol, and calm inflammation. Think of it as a natural way to help your heart and metabolism work more efficiently. 💪

A 2025 review even found that barberry supplements improved glucose, blood pressure, and waist circumference in people with metabolic syndrome (3).

Want to try it yourself? Sprinkle 1–2 tablespoons of dried barberries on rice, oats, or salads. You can also brew them as tea for a tangy, vitamin-rich drink.

Barberries aren’t a miracle cure, but they’re a delicious, natural ally for better heart and metabolic health - proof that sometimes, small things make the biggest difference. 🍒✨

Find more detailed explanation and questions and answers, in this full Q&A. ⤵️

https://www.ferfitdietetics.com.au/post/the-little-red-powerhouse-can-barberries-really-lower-blood-pressure-and-inflammation
OR
https://ferfit.page.link/8Cxv

#Barberries #HeartHealth #NaturalRemedies #HealthyLiving #NutritionTips #Superfoods #Antioxidants #BloodPressure #MetabolicHealth

References:
(1) Emamat et al., 2020
(2) Kalmarzi et al., 2019
(3) Zhang et al., 2025

3 hours ago | [YT] | 0

FerFit Dietetics and Nutrition

Stress, Mood & Food: What’s Really Going On? 😵🍽️

Find evidence-based explanations for your questions here. ↩️

https://www.ferfitdietetics.com.au/post/stress-food-us-how-our-eating-shapes-stress-or-vs
OR
https://ferfit.page.link/cQR4

Ever notice you feel extra anxious when you skip meals? That’s because low blood sugar makes your body pump out more cortisol (your stress hormone) leaving you jittery, snappy, or even teary.

Some of us eat more when stressed, others can’t eat at all both are totally normal! 🥗🍫
But here’s the good news: balanced meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats help keep blood sugar (and stress!) steady. Skipping meals, living on fast food, and not sleeping well just make the stress spiral worse.

Try this today:
🍳 Eat 3 balanced meals
💧 Stay hydrated
😴 Get good sleep
🧠 Notice if you’re eating from hunger… or just from stress

Small changes → big calm. ✨

📖 Ref: Hill D et al. Stress & eating behaviours in healthy adults. Health Psychol Rev. 2021;16(2):280–304.

#StressEating #NutritionTips #HealthyHabits #DietitianApproved #MindfulEating #BalancedLife

5 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

FerFit Dietetics and Nutrition

🔥 Inflammation: 3 Faces of the Same Fire

Inflammation isn’t always bad – it’s your body’s defence system. But not all inflammation looks the same 👇

1️⃣ Acute Inflammation – Fast & Furious ⚡
Your body’s first-aid team rushing in after a cut, sprain, or infection. Redness, heat, swelling, and pain appear suddenly – but usually settle within days.
🥦 Nutrition tip: Support healing with vitamin C–rich foods like citrus and berries to help tissue repair.

2️⃣ Subacute Inflammation – The Slow Burn 🔥
This stage lingers between 2–6 weeks. The fire isn’t out yet, but it’s no longer raging. The body is still repairing and rebuilding.
🥑 Nutrition tip: Add omega-3 fats from fish, walnuts, or flaxseeds to keep inflammation under control.

3️⃣ Chronic Inflammation – When the Fire Smoulders 🌪️
The troublemaker. Can last months or years, often silently. Linked to arthritis, gut issues, and heart disease – it’s like a spark that never dies out.
🍵 Nutrition tip: Focus on an anti-inflammatory pattern – plenty of colourful veggies, herbs (like turmeric & ginger), and less processed foods, sugar, and alcohol.

👉 Acute = healing.
👉 Subacute = repairing.
👉 Chronic = harming.

Feed your body right so the fire 🔥 works for you, not against you.

#Inflammation #NutritionMatters #BodyWisdom

1 week ago | [YT] | 0