Melbourne Functional Medicine

29/10/2026

You got your cholesterol results back. But do you know what your LDL and HDL numbers are really telling you?

Cholesterol doesn't just sit in your blood, it's carried around your body by two main "vehicles": LDL and HDL. LDL carries cholesterol into your cells, while HDL carries it back out to your liver. Neither one is simply good or bad on its own, it comes down to balance, and what else is going on in your body at the same time.

At Melbourne Functional Medicine, we look beyond a standard cholesterol panel to more deeply understand the fuller picture of your heart health. Our free Beyond Cholesterol masterclass with Mark Payne goes into this in more detail, link in bio.

28/10/2026

26/10/2026

Worried that eggs are the reason your cholesterol is high? For most people, that's not quite the full picture.

Only a small part of the cholesterol in your blood comes from what you eat. The majority is made by your own liver, which is why cutting out high cholesterol foods on their own often makes less difference than people expect.

There's more going on behind a cholesterol result than diet alone, and we cover some of it in our free Beyond Cholesterol masterclass with Mark Payne. You can access it through the link below:

https://mfm.au/beyond-cholesterol-masterclass/

20/10/2026

We made this masterclass free, because heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death in Australia despite there being so much we can do to prevent it.

In our free cholesterol masterclass, our practitioner Mark Payne walks through what's really behind your heart health, not just your cholesterol number. It's a little over an hour long and available to watch as soon as you sign up (comment CHOLESTEROL to receive the link).

18/10/2026

Currently on our clinical teams' reading list: Flourish by Martin Seligman.⁠
⁠
Because treating chronic disease for us is about helping people thrive.⁠
⁠
Seligman's PERMA model (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) is a great reminder that wellbeing is more than 'not sick. For our practitioners and health coaches, it's a nudge to keep asking: is this patient just surviving, or genuinely flourishing?⁠
⁠
We understand that chronic illness can have a way of chipping away at hope and motivation. This book offers research-backed tools for rebuilding that spark alongside the functional treatment we do every day.⁠
⁠
A good read for anyone in the healthcare space. If you've read it, let us know what you think in the comments below.

15/10/2026

Another way to ease hay fever symptoms like sneezing, itching, and a runny nose is to support the immune system directly using natural anti-inflammatories and antihistamines. Our practitioners often see great results with certain nutrients and herbs that help calm the immune response behind hay fever.

Swipe through for a list of the key supplements and herbs we recommend, and keep in mind that everyone's triggers are a little different, so it's worth tailoring your approach to what suits you.

Save this post for later or share it with a friend who might be dealing with hay fever symptoms this spring.

12/10/2026

Did you know your gut plays a big role in hay fever? A hypersensitive immune response is often connected to gut health, particularly a compromised gut lining and an imbalance in gut bacteria alongside inflammation.

While it's worth working with a practitioner to get to the bottom of any underlying issues, there's plenty you can do at home too, from cutting back on inflammatory foods to supporting your gut with probiotics. Swipe through for our top tips.

Know someone who might be dealing with hay fever this spring? Send this post to them to help them find some relief.

06/10/2026

Reducing your allergen load is one of the easiest places to start when it comes to easing hay fever symptoms. Small habits like rinsing your sinuses, filtering the air in your home, and showering before bed can all help limit how much pollen you're carrying around with you.

Swipe through for some simple, practical ways to cut down your exposure both inside and outside the home.

Want to learn more about functional medicine and our approach? Click the link below.

https://mfm.au

05/10/2026

Recently functional medicine practitioner Nina shared her insights on the topic of Perimenopause to a group of women at Mornington Peninsula Fitness

We spoke about what’s happening in the body during this transition, what symptoms to watch for and lifestyle actions that can be taken to mitigate symptoms.

The functional medicine approach is to use deeper functional testing to determine a more personalised plan so your lifestyle habits and supplement stack can be individualised. We support women working with us alongside their MHT prescribing doctor if hormones are chosen as a part of their perimenopause plan (although we don’t prescribe hormones in our clinic).

We heard from women in the room who have managed their perimenopause transition smoothly without prescription hormones as well as women using MHT with great success.

The key is being proactive and remembering every woman’s journey is unique.

All those who attended walked away with the MFM Peri Playbook, our guide to high performance perimenopause!

If your gym, community group or workplace would like to arrange a presentation from one of our perimenopause practitioners, please feel free to DM us.

01/10/2026

During the warmer months, pollen and other environmental irritants can bring on some pretty uncomfortable symptoms, from sneezing and itchy eyes to sinus infections that just won't clear. A functional medicine approach looks beneath these symptoms to help you find relief that actually lasts through the season.

Over the next few posts, we'll be sharing our top strategies for easing hay fever naturally, covering allergen exposure, gut health, and immune support.

Want to learn more about our approach to hay fever at MFM? Click the link below.

https://mfm.au