https://www.discoveringbalance.com.au/

Discovering Balance with Melissa Jane, 11/521 Toorak Road, Pyalong (2026)

14/10/2026

Secretory IgA (sIgA) is an antibody that helps protect the intestinal lining, supports immune tolerance and prevents unwanted microbes from attaching to the gut wall.

3 POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Chronic stress: Prolonged stress may alter gut immune signalling and mucosal immunity.

Nutritional deficiencies: Inadequate protein, zinc and vitamin A can compromise normal immune function.

Dysbiosis: Changes in gut bacteria, infections and intestinal inflammation may influence sIgA levels.

🚩 POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS

Low stool sIgA doesn’t cause a specific set of symptoms, but some people may experience:

• Bloating and abdominal discomfort
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Food-related digestive discomfort
• Recurrent gastrointestinal infections

HOW CAN WE CAN IMPROVE sIgA WITH DIET?

Vitamin A (700–900 µg/day): Supports intestinal IgA production. Found in sweet potato, carrots and eggs.

Zinc (8–14 mg/day): Essential for immune function. Found in oysters, beef and pumpkin seeds.

Protein (at least 0.8 g/kg/day): Provides amino acids required for antibody production. Include eggs, fish, tofu and legumes.

Prebiotic fibre: Nourishes beneficial gut bacteria. Include oats, garlic, onions, legumes and green bananas.

Polyphenols: Berries, pomegranate, cocoa and green tea provide plant compounds that interact with gut microbes.

SUPPLEMENTS WORTH CONSIDERING

• Probiotics: Certain strains, including B. lactis Bb-12, have shown promising effects on faecal IgA.

• PHGG: A prebiotic fibre that supports beneficial gut bacteria.

• Zinc & vitamin A: May be beneficial when intake or status is inadequate.

• Saccharomyces boulardii: Research suggests that this beneficial yeast may stimulate mucosal immune responses and intestinal sIgA production.

12/10/2026

Discovering Balance Naturopathy & Dispensary has been named a finalist, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU.

To every client and customer who has walked through our doors, trusted us with your health, shared your story, and recommended us to the people you love: thank you. This recognition belongs to you as much as it does to us.

Your trust is what keeps us doing what we love, every single day.

We’re so grateful, and we can’t wait to keep supporting your wellbeing journey.

06/10/2026

Antibiotics can cause significant changes to the gut microbiome within days, with substantial recovery occurring over the following weeks to months. But some bacterial species and microbial functions can take considerably longer to return towards their previous state.

And the research shows just how variable this can be:

🦠 A systematic review of 31 studies found that the microbiome generally moved towards baseline within weeks, although some changes lasted 2–6 months.

🦠 A human study following people after 10 days of ciprofloxacin or clindamycin found that different bacterial groups recovered at very different rates; some relatively quickly, while others took up to 12 months to return towards baseline.

🦠 Another study following 13 healthy men after 7 days of broad-spectrum antibiotics found substantial recovery over 8–31 months, although some microbial differences persisted.

These studies aren’t directly comparable due to different antibiotics, treatment durations, people and definitions of “recovery” were used.

But it is important to note that persistent gastrointestinal problems CAN present months beyond your antibiotic use.

I personally love Activated Probiotics biome advanced , which has clinically trialled probiotic strains - for use during and after antibiotic use

S. boulardii is a beneficial yeast rather than a bacterium, meaning antibiotics don’t directly kill it. It has been studied alongside antibiotics, particularly in relation to antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

If you’re starting your antibiotics with an already compromised gut. Be sure to seek Naturopathic care to get tailored information for your circumstance.

There is never a one size fits all approach.

27/09/2026

Wow, what an event!

I didn’t secure first place last night but what I did secure is an incredible amount of gratitude, motivation, inspiration and a beautiful bunch of new friends.

First and foremost I want to say thank you to all of my clients of Naturopath and Nutritionist | Australia Wide and customers of Discovering Balance Dispensary that have supported me to get to where
I am today and open up this opportunity to me.

I am so grateful to have been selected as a finalist in over 3500 applicants.

Thank you to the judges and the event organisers and staff for making the night sensational thechampionawards

A special thank you to everyone who helped me look like a princess on the night..

And last but, not least - Thank you to nutritionsharkau who will be housing me in their back office as of next Monday 5th October so that I can integrate back into seeing clients face to face.
Bookings available via the link 🔗

Time to explore Sydney 🤩

16/09/2026

Did you know that..

Your gut microbiome doesn’t just influence digestion. The bacteria living within your gut interact constantly with the intestinal lining and immune system, helping to regulate how the body responds to potential threats.

Research is increasingly investigating the relationship between gut microbiome changes, intestinal barrier function and autoimmune disease.

Some of the mechanisms researchers are investigating include:

Intestinal barrier integrity -
Changes to the gut barrier may alter the amount of microbial compounds and other antigens that come into contact with immune cells.

Microbiome diversity & dysbiosis -
Changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome have been observed in a number of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Immune regulation -
Gut microbes and their metabolites can influence immune pathways, including the balance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and pro-inflammatory Th17 cells.

Short-chain fatty acids -
Compounds such as butyrate, produced by certain gut bacteria, can influence intestinal barrier function and immune regulation.

Molecular mimicry -
Researchers are also investigating whether certain microbial proteins can resemble human proteins closely enough to contribute to inappropriate immune activation in susceptible individuals.

And there are some fascinating examples being investigated:

• Prevotella copri 〰️rheumatoid arthritis
• Klebsiella species 〰️ankylosing spondylitis
• Proteus species 〰️ rheumatoid arthritis
• Fusobacterium species 〰️inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory conditions

But, It isn’t as simple as saying “this bacteria causes that autoimmune disease.”

The relationship between the gut microbiome and the immune system is bidirectional.

This is why I personally prefer testing when it comes to getting clearer answers.

14/09/2026

You may have recently heard of Akkermansia muciniphila — a naturally occurring bacterium that lives within the mucus layer of the gut.

The truth is, this isn’t something newly discovered!

But what is exactly is it? And why should we be intrigued to learn more…

Akkermansia is associated with a healthy intestinal environment and plays an important role in interacting with the gut mucus layer.

Higher levels have been associated in research with:

👉🏻A healthier gut barrier
👉🏼Metabolic health
👉🏽Healthy glucose regulation
👉🏾Healthier inflammatory pathways
👉🏿Greater microbial diversity and a more resilient gut ecosystem

WHAT CAN LOWER AKKERMANSIA?

Factors associated with lower levels include:

🧄 Diets low in fibre and plant diversity
🍇 Low intake of polyphenol-rich foods
🍟 Highly processed dietary patterns
🚩Metabolic dysfunction
💥Chronic inflammation
💊 Some studies have also linked antibiotic exposure with changes in Akkermansia

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT IT NATURALLY?

🥦 Eat a diverse range of plants
Vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruit provide different types of fibre and resistant starch.

🫐 Increase polyphenol-rich foods
Think berries, extra virgin olive oil, cocoa, green tea, colourful vegetables, herbs and spices.

🌾 Prioritise prebiotic fibres
Different fibres support different microbes , diversity matters.

🧅 Include resistant starch
Cooked-and-cooled potatoes, rice, oats and legumes can provide fermentable substrates for your microbiome.

🥗 Aim for dietary diversity
A wider variety of plant foods generally means a wider variety of substrates for your gut microbes.

Which body systems and functions are positively influenced by better levels of Akkermansia?

🧱 Gut barrier & intestinal integrity
🧠 Gut–brain axis & neurotransmitter signalling
⚖️ Weight & body composition
🩸 Blood glucose & insulin sensitivity
🔥 Immune & inflammatory regulation
🫀 Cardiometabolic health
🧬 Microbiome diversity & resilience
🍽️ Appetite & metabolic signalling
🧠 Cognitive & neurological health
🧪 Short-chain fatty acid & microbial metabolite production

08/09/2026

Since falling pregnant and losing my first child in the second trimester in 2023, followed by falling pregnant again and having my son in 2024, it was inevitable
My business would suffer an immense blow.

I took year years away from Naturopath and Nutritionist | Australia Wide and Discovering Balance Dispensary and really focused on nailing parenthood alone.

Those of you that are close to me know that last year (2025) was even harder.

Being nominated, let alone making the finals for this award was everything I needed and more to encourage me to keep going after a very rough 3 years.

This achievement has given me the power to believe in myself all over again.

I’m back to finding my pre pregnancy identity again and doing what makes me the happiest; helping people!

What an honour it is to be up against some really incredible names in the Alternative Therapies category.

I cannot wait to begin seeing clients face to face again once I come back to Melbourne after the thechampionawards & look so forward to celebrating with all the wonderful women in the room!

Thank you for the opportunity thechampionawards

31/07/2026

🎉 Melissa Jane of Discovering Balance Naturopathy and Dispensary has been named a finalist in the Wellness Business Award category for the AusMumpreneur Awards! 🏆
. It’s been a while since I have written an introductory post so, I think what better time to share some my journey than now, with this great achievement..

1️⃣ I started my journey after a significant mental breakdown during my parents separation, which lead me to experience physical symptoms of illness that I could not shake. I saw many allopathic practitioners to no avail until I saw a Naturopath, who treated me as a whole and I knew from then I wanted to work in a similar role; where I could take the time effort and level of care he did. Shoutout to Jad Patrick !

2️⃣ I qualified in 2018 and launched my business practicing from Melbourne C*D, seeing clients face to face until the dreaded pandemic hit and I wasn’t playing part in any experiments

3️⃣ I launched the second half of my business Discovering Balance Dispensary in 2022 and quickly had 16 accounts across Australia 🥰🫶🏻 . Then came the TGA changes to capsules and we had to discontinue the capsules and start from scratch AGAIN!

4️⃣ 2023 After losing my consultancy to COVID, my capsule range to the TGA changes , I then lost my daughter Meeya in the second trimester, a loss that later in the year saw my 🌈 baby Albs being conceived.

5️⃣ Meeya & Albies father and I separated before Albie was born and I was left to raise Albie alone. During 2024 I never thought I’d see myself back to where I am now but, I didn’t give up, at least not fully!

6️⃣ October 2025 I relaunched Discovering Balance Dispensary with two powders, carefully curated for six months to assist those living busy lifestyles that need the extra support winding down; mothers, tradesmen, shift workers, front line workers, athletes, corporate workers, CEOs, students and anyone who feels they need that extra support to wind down at the end of their hard working days!

I am so happy I never gave up and I am proof that it’s NOT EASY, but it’s possible!

7️⃣ 2026 I have gone back to uni to study a Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy. Mental health is something I’m very passionate about

11/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW YOUR GUT HEALTH CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR KIDNEYS?

Deep in the human gut lives a bacterium with a very specific, very important job: eating oxalate.

Its name is Oxalobacter formigenes, and while you’ve probably never heard of it, it might be quietly protecting you from kidney stones (if you have good levels).

WHAT IS IT?
Oxalobacter formigenes is an anaerobic, gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the large intestine of humans and many animals. It’s what scientists call an “obligate anaerobe,” meaning it can only survive without oxygen, which makes it notoriously difficult to grow and study in a lab.

ITS MAIN PURPOSE
Oxalate Degradation. What makes this microbe unique is its diet. Unlike most gut bacteria that ferment sugars or fiber for energy, O. formigenes has evolved to use oxalate, a naturally occurring compound found in foods like red meat, spinach, beets, nuts, and chocolate as its primary source of energy and carbon.

It breaks oxalate down into simpler compounds, mainly carbon dioxide and formate, through a specialized metabolic pathway. In doing so, it performs a valuable service for its host: reducing the amount of oxalate available for absorption into the bloodstream.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Kidney Stone Prevention

This is where the bacterium’s role becomes medically significant. Excess oxalate in the body is a major contributor to calcium oxalate kidney stones, the most common type of kidney stone.

When oxalate levels in the gut are high and absorption goes unchecked, that oxalate can travel to the kidneys, bind with calcium, and crystallize into painful stones.

By consuming oxalate before it can be absorbed, O. formigenes effectively lowers the oxalate burden on the kidneys.

Research has shown that people who lack this bacterium in their gut microbiome tend to have higher urinary oxalate levels and a greater risk of forming kidney stones.

09/07/2026

Contrary to popular belief.. Chronic stress doesn’t always = high cortisol 🔬

Did you know that over time, cortisol can shift from high → blunted, and adrenals compensate by shifting into high DHEA production?

Here’s what that pattern looks like:

Early/acute stress → high cortisol, adrenals working overtime to meet demand

Chronic/prolonged stress → cortisol output flattens or drops; especially in that morning peak, while DHEA rises as the adrenals shift their compensatory output

This is why someone can be deep in a chronic stress state and still test with low cortisol, because the high-cortisol phase isn’t the whole story.

Symptoms of low cortisol + high DHEA:

🔸 Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep, which is this wired but tired picture

🔸 Trouble waking up, relying on caffeine to function

🔸 Low blood pressure / dizziness on standing

🔸Sugar or salt cravings

🔸 Poor stress tolerance = small stressors feel huge

🔸Brain fog, poor concentration

🔸Acne, oiliness, or increased facial/body hair

🔸Irregular cycles

🔸 Getting sick more easily

Vs. classic high cortisol symptoms:

🔺Wired, anxious, racing thoughts
🔺Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
🔺Elevated blood pressure
🔺Weight gain, especially central/abdominal
🔺Sugar cravings paired with restlessness
🔺Feeling “on edge” or hypervigilant

Same root cause — different phase of the stress response, different testing picture, different approach.

Educational content only, testing and full clinical context matter for accurate interpretation.*

Discovering Balance with Melissa Jane

14/10/2026

12/10/2026

06/10/2026

27/09/2026

16/09/2026

14/09/2026

08/09/2026

31/07/2026

11/07/2026

09/07/2026

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