Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopath

Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopath Madeleine is a women’s health naturopath. Hormones, fertility, PCOS, Endo, pregnancy and more.

For bookings please contact me via Facebook, my website or you can call on 0419387884.

02/08/2026

Tired all the time, despite a full nights sleep?
You are not lazy. You are not weak.

Fatigue is a symptom not a personality trait. Your body is asking you to pay attention.

Some of the most common reasons I see for persistent fatigue include:
🩸 Low iron stores (ferritin)
You can have completely normal haemoglobin and still have ferritin levels that are too low to adequately support energy production. This is one of the most commonly overlooked causes of fatigue.
🦋 Thyroid dysfunction
Even when thyroid markers fall within the laboratory reference range, they still need to be interpreted alongside your symptoms. Fatigue, brain fog, constipation, weight
changes, and feeling cold may warrant a closer look.
🍽️ Blood sugar dysregulation
If you're crashing after meals, constantly reaching for sugar or caDeine, or waking
between 2–3 am feeling alert, your blood sugar regulation may be contributing.
😮‍💨 Chronic stress & cortisol
Long-term stress can disrupt your body's natural cortisol rhythm, leaving you feeling
wired at night, exhausted in the morning, and running on empty throughout the day.
💊 Nutrient deficiencies
Low vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, folate, and even inadequate protein intake can all impact your energy levels.
The important thing to remember is this...
Fatigue is rarely caused by just one thing. It's usually the result of several factors
working together.
That's why simply getting more sleep isn't always the answer.
Sometimes your body isn't asking for more sleep it's asking for the underlying cause to be found.

✨ Ready to start getting to the root cause of your fatigue? Book a complimentary
15-minute Introduction Call to discuss your symptoms.

30/07/2026

My Top 3 Supplements to Support Iron Levels

1. Vitamin C 🍊
Vitamin C is one of the most well-researched nutrients for improving iron absorption. It helps convert non-haem iron (the form found in plant foods) into a form that's more easily absorbed in the gut. Pairing vitamin C with an iron-rich meal or iron supplement can significantly improve iron uptake.
2. GOS (Galacto-oligosaccharides) 🌱
GOS is a prebiotic fibre that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Emerging research suggests GOS may enhance iron absorption by creating a healthier gut environment and improving mineral uptake. If your gut isn't functioning well, your ability to absorb nutrients—including iron—may also be compromised.
3. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v 🦠
This specific probiotic strain has been studied for its ability to improve iron absorption. Research suggests Lactobacillus plantarum 299v may increase the amount of iron absorbed from meals, particularly non-haem iron, by supporting gut health and influencing the environment within the intestine. Bonus nutrients

✨Bonus nutrients that often get overlooked...
🟤Copper, Copper plays an important role in iron metabolism. It's required for the proteins that help move iron around the body and incorporate it into red blood cells. Low copper status has also been associated with increased hepcidin the hormone that reduces iron absorption and traps iron in storage potentially making it more di icult to improve iron levels despite supplementation.
☀ Vitamin D Low vitamin D has also been linked with higher hepcidin levels and disturbances in iron regulation. While correcting vitamin D deficiency isn't a replacement for iron therapy, ensuring adequate vitamin D may help create a more favourable environment for iron absorption and utilisation.

✨ Remember: Supplements can support iron absorption, but they won't fix the underlying reason your iron is low. If you have heavy periods, gut inflammation, coeliac disease, low stomach acid, chronic blood loss, or another underlying cause, these need to be identified and addressed alongside rebuilding your iron stores. Iron deficiency isn't always an iron deficiency problem, it's often a why is my iron low? problem.

Buying a generic multi-strain probiotic and hoping for the best is a bit like taking a random supplement and hoping it f...
28/07/2026

Buying a generic multi-strain probiotic and hoping for the best is a bit like taking a random supplement and hoping it fixes your specific problem.
Here's something most people don't know... A probiotic has three parts to its name:
🔹 Lactobacillus = Genus
🔹 rhamnosus = Species
🔹 GG = Strain
The strain is the most important part. It's the strain that determines what the probiotic actually does in the body.
🚩 Red flag: If a probiotic label only lists the genus and species (e.g. Lactobacillus rhamnosus) but doesn't state the strain (e.g. GG), I'd be asking why.

The research is conducted on specific strains not just the genus or species. If the strain isn't listed, there's no way of knowing whether the product contains the probiotic that was actually studied or whether you can expect the same benefits.

Here's a quick guide to some well-researched strains:
🦠 Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG → Immune support → Allergies → Acute diarrhoea → Gut infections → IBS → Constipation
🦠 Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 → Constipation → Supports metabolic health (including fatty liver)
🦠 Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 → Supports H. pylori treatment → Lactose intolerance → Glucose metabolism
🦠 Bifidobacterium longum BB536 → Gut microbiome modulation → Supports microbial diversity and balance → General digestive health
🦠 Saccharomyces boulardii → Supports recovery during and after antibiotic use → Helps reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea
🦠 Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 → IBS, particularly bloating and abdominal pain
This is why choosing a probiotic isn't as simple as picking one with the most strains or the highest CFU count.
The right strain for the right condition is what matters.
💾 Save this for the next time you're choosing a probiotic.

25/07/2026

Here's my hot take on Prescribed GLP-1 medications..
I like them.

You can absolutely have your own opinion, but as an intervention for people who have
been doing everything "right" and still can't lose weight, they can be incredibly effective.
I see patients weighing 100kg+ who are genuinely eating in a calorie deficit but aren't
seeing the scales move. Excess body fat isn't just stored energy it's metabolically
active tissue that promotes inflammation. That inflammation can become another
roadblock to weight loss.
Then there's the physical side. Carrying excess weight can make movement painful,
damage joints, and reduce the ability to exercise. Sometimes people simply need a tool
to help break that cycle.
If I were starting a GLP-1, here's exactly what I'd be doing:
🥩 1. Priorities protein AND fibre.
There is no point focusing on one without the other.
Aim for:
• Protein: at least 1.4g per kg of body weight each day.
• Fibre: work towards 50g per day.
If you're currently eating much less fibre than that, increase it gradually by around 5g
every 1–2 weeks to give your gut time to adapt.
🩸2. Monitor your nutrient status.
Nutrient deficiencies are common while taking GLP-1 medications because overall food
intake often decreases.
At a minimum, check every 6 months:
• Iron studies
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• Selenium
🏋️ 3. Lift weights.
This is non-negotiable.
You don't want to lose a significant amount of weight only to regain it later because
you've also lost muscle.

Resistance training helps preserve and build lean muscle, supports your metabolism,
improves insulin sensitivity, and gives you the body composition most people are
actually chasing not just a lower number on the scales.
Aim for at least 3 x 45-minute strength sessions each week, using progressive
overload so your body continues to adapt.
GLP-1s aren't magic.
They're a tool.
The habits you build while you're on them are what determine whether the results last
after you come off them.
Love them or hate them, they're here to stay and for many people, they've genuinely
been life-changing.
💬 Save this post for later, and send it to someone who's about to start a GLP-1 journey

23/07/2026

🌱 Amazing patient result!

This patient had been doing "all the right things" for weight loss, but the scales just weren't budging.
Rather than continuing to guess, we decided to investigate her gut microbiome.

The results painted a really interesting picture:
🦠 Very low butyrate-producing bacteria (important for gut health and metabolic health).
🦠 An absence of several key beneficial microbes that help support a healthy, resilient gut ecosystem.
🦠 A high abundance of Fusobacterium, a bacterium that, in the right context, can be a sign of microbial imbalance.
Instead of simply telling her to "eat less and move more", we used these findings to personalise her nutrition plan.
Our focus was on:
🌿 Increasing prebiotic-rich foods to nourish beneficial gut bacteria.
💚 Supplementing with butyrate to help support gut health.
🫘 Replacing a significant portion of animal protein with legumes, lentils, tofu and other plant-based protein sources to increase fibre and plant diversity.

The result?
✨ She's feeling fantastic.
✨ Her digestion has improved.
✨ And she's lost 2 kg in just 6 weeks without restrictive dieting.

This is why I love functional testing. It's not about chasing perfect results or finding a magic answer. It's about gathering clues that help us understand what's happening beneath the surface and creating a plan that's tailored to the individual.
Because sometimes the question isn't, "Why can't I lose weight?"
It's, "What does my body need to help me get there?"
This case has been de-identified and shared with permission. Every person's health journey is unique, and treatment recommendations should always be individualised.

🪴 Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopathy
🥥 315 Main St, Bairnsdale, VIC 3875
🏵️ [email protected]
🌿 https://f.mtr.cool/zxrxdbjgqp

17/07/2026

These are the moments that remind me that healing doesn't always require complicated answers. Sometimes it's about asking the right questions, finding the root cause, and making small changes that add up to life-changing improvements.

Love what I do 💚

She didn't cut out dairy.She didn't cut out gluten.She simply started eating MORE of the right foods... 👇While we were w...
16/07/2026

She didn't cut out dairy.
She didn't cut out gluten.
She simply started eating MORE of the right foods... 👇

While we were waiting for her hormone test results, we focused on nourishing her body instead of restricting it.

Here's what we added:
🌾 Oat bran and flaxseeds to dramatically increase fibre.
🫘 More legumes and lentils to support gut health and blood sugar regulation.
🩷❤️💜 Plenty of pink, red and purple fruits and vegetables to boost antioxidant intake and help calm inflammation.

The outcome?
✨ A significant reduction in redness.
✨ Less inflammation.
✨ Fewer breakouts.

One of the biggest misconceptions in nutrition is that healing always means taking foods away.

Sometimes, it's simply about giving your body more of what it needs.

Food isn't just calories, it's information. And sometimes, your skin is asking for better nourishment. 🤍

Results are individual, and this formed one part of a personalised treatment plan while further investigations were underway.

🪴 Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopathy
🥥 315 Main St, Bairnsdale, VIC 3875
🏵️ [email protected]
🌿 https://f.mtr.cool/svcrradlcx

15/07/2026

🩸 Ferritin isn't the whole story.

One of the most common blood tests I see is a ferritin level ordered on its own.
The problem? Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant, which means it can increase in response to inflammation, infection or liver disease. This can make iron stores appear better than they actually are.
That's why I rarely interpret ferritin in isolation.
To get a clearer picture of your iron status, it's often helpful to assess a full iron study alongside markers of inflammation, including:
✔️ Ferritin
✔️ Serum iron
✔️ Transferrin
✔️ Transferrin saturation
✔️ C-reactive protein (CRP)
✔️ Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), where clinically appropriate

Looking at these results together provides much more context than a ferritin result alone and helps ensure the results are interpreted appropriately.
If you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, hair loss or poor exercise tolerance, it's worth having a conversation with your healthcare provider about whether a comprehensive assessment of your iron status is appropriate for you.

Because when it comes to pathology, it's not about one number it's about the whole picture. 💚

Address

315 Main Street
Bairnsdale, VIC
3875

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+61419387884

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopath posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Madeleine Quitadamo Naturopath:

Shortcuts

Share

Category