Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist

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Hobart, TAS
Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist

Naturopath. Educator. Microbiome specialist. I help you get to the root - supporting your gut, nervous system, and whole self with honest, evidence-based care.

No extremes. No fluff. Just real, lasting change. Explore more at chantelyates.com.au

15/10/2026

Can we please get more comfortable talking about this?

Vaginal dryness, discomfort during s*x, urinary urgency and recurrent UTIs are incredibly common around menopause - yet so many women never mention them.

Often because they assume it’s simply part of getting older.

It isn’t something you need to quietly tolerate.

Falling oestrogen changes the vaginal environment and microbiome, and there are evidence-supported treatment options available - including local vaginal oestrogen where clinically appropriate.

This is something I work on in my clinical practice with many women going through this beautiful transition stage in life.

If you're looking for support, please reach out.

Want to learn more? Comment MIDLIFE below to access my webinar 'The Midlife Microbiome: Perimenopause, Hormones & Your Gut'

06/10/2026

Antibiotics save lives, but they also shape the developing microbiome.

From pregnancy and birth through to infancy and childhood, each antibiotic exposure can influence microbial diversity, resilience and colonisation.

This isn’t about fear or avoiding necessary treatment. It’s about understanding the bigger picture and supporting the microbiome where we can.

Swipe through to learn more about how antibiotics can shape your child's microbiome.

If you're interested in learning more, you can watch my 'Baby Microbiome: From Ecosystem Origins to Whole-Body Health' webinar.

Follow the link below to learn more.
https://chantel-yates-naturopath-and-herbalist.simplecliniconline.com/programs/antibiotic-recovery-webinar

30/09/2026

A baby’s microbiome isn’t established from one single exposure.

It begins to develop through a cascade of experiences - from birth and feeding, to skin contact and the microbial environment of the home.

Vaginal birth can expose babies to maternal microbes, breast milk provides both beneficial bacteria and compounds that help feed them, skin-to-skin adds another layer of microbial exposure, and siblings, pets, soil and outdoor environments continue to shape the developing ecosystem.

Each exposure builds on the last.

A beautiful reminder that the microbiome is something we develop in relationship with our environment from the very beginning.

To learn more, listen to my webinar 'Baby Microbiome: From Ecosystem Origins
to Whole-Body Health'

28/09/2026

The recent experience with Dad has made me think about this more than ever.

What’s it all for if we’re constantly rushing, working, worrying, waiting for the “right” time… and forgetting to actually enjoy our life?

As bleak as it sounds, none of us really know how much time we have.

So lately I’ve been asking myself: am I really living the life I want to live?

And I think sometimes the answer isn’t a dramatic life overhaul.

It’s enjoying the small things more.
Being present.
Seeing the people you love.
Making the plans.
Doing more of what makes you feel like you.

A reminder for me as much as anyone else.

Chantel 🫶🏼

24/09/2026

Probiotics aren’t automatically necessary just because we’re talking about a baby’s gut microbiome.

For exclusively breastfed babies, I often start by looking at mum. Breastfeeding is one of the ways maternal microbes and microbial metabolites can influence the developing infant gut, so supporting mum’s microbiome may be part of supporting baby too.

There are, of course, situations where probiotics may be considered. Certain strains have been studied for specific concerns, such as Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for infant colic, particularly in breastfed infants.

But this is where specificity matters. The strain matters. The dose matters. The reason you’re using it matters.

Rather than adding a probiotic because you’re worried something is “wrong” with your baby’s gut, seek individualised guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Sometimes supporting baby starts with supporting mum.

22/09/2026

Last chance - applications for The Supported Place close tomorrow at midnight ⏰

One fully funded place at our 2026 Tasmania Microbiome Retreat: four nights, every meal, all workshops, plus a Microba microbiome test kit and 12 months of Nerva access.

If you've been meaning to apply, today's the day. It's just three short questions - write it up or send a voice note, whichever's easier for you.

1️⃣ Tell us a little about you, and what's drawing you to the retreat.
2️⃣ What makes attending out of reach right now?
3️⃣ What would a few days of rest, nourishment and learning make possible for you?

No proof needed. No perfect answer required. If you're wondering whether you should apply - apply. Let us decide.

Email [email protected] before midnight tomorrow 🌿

21/09/2026

Soy isoflavones have been getting a lot more attention in conversations around perimenopause, and for good reason.

These naturally occurring plant compounds have mild oestrogen-like activity and have been studied for their potential role in supporting women through the menopausal transition, including bone health as oestrogen levels begin to decline.

And you don’t necessarily need to jump straight to a supplement to start including them.

Some of the easiest food sources are:
🫛 Tempeh
🫛 Tofu
🫛 Edamame
🫛 Soy milk
🫛 Miso and whole soybeans

I particularly love whole and minimally processed soy foods because you’re getting more than isoflavones. Depending on the food, you may also be adding protein, fibre, calcium and fermented foods into your diet.

If bone health is a priority, look for calcium-set tofu and calcium-fortified soy milk for an extra nutritional boost.

It’s another example of how the foods we eat regularly can become part of supporting our health through perimenopause and beyond.

Which of these is already a regular in your diet?

17/09/2026

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to truly step away?

Not a weekend filled with errands. Not a holiday where you’re still organising everyone else. But intentional time to slow down, be nourished, reconnect with your body and give your nervous system some space.

That’s what these five days in Tasmania are about 🤍

We’ll eat beautiful seasonal, microbiome-loving food, explore the connection between the gut, hormones and whole-body health, spend time walking in nature, share meaningful conversations and, importantly, leave space for rest.

No rushing. No pressure to optimise every minute. Just time to learn, nourish and reconnect in one of the most beautiful places in Tasmania.

29 October - 2 November 2026
📍 Tasmania
✨ Only a few places remain

If you’ve been looking at the retreat and thinking maybe, this is your reminder that you’re allowed to choose yourself too.

Comment RETREAT, and I’ll send you all the details.

16/09/2026

Retreats cost money. For a lot of people, that’s where it stops.

Maybe you’ve wanted to come to this retreat for a while and already worked out it isn’t happening this year.

Maybe being unwell for a long time has been expensive in ways beyond money.

Maybe you’re the one who holds it all together for everyone else, and there’s never anything left for you.

This one’s for you.

One place at our 2026 Tasmania retreat is fully funded - applications open today.

It covers everything! 👏🏼

Four nights, every meal, all workshops, plus a bonus Microba microbiome test kit and 12 months of Nerva access.

You don’t need to prove anything. We trust your word. We especially welcome applications from people in rural and remote areas, First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, carers, healthcare card holders, and anyone living with long-term gut symptoms who rarely gets access to something like this.

Applications are just three simple questions - write around 300 words or send a voice note. Closes midnight Wed 23 Sep.

Full details at the link in bio, or email [email protected] 🌿

15/09/2026

Soy isoflavones are something I often prescribe in perimenopause, particularly when I'm thinking about long-term bone health.

As oestrogen declines through the menopause transition, bone loss can accelerate. Soy isoflavones are naturally occurring phytoestrogens, and research has explored their potential role in supporting bone health and reducing bone loss, particularly in postmenopausal women.

But my interest in them isn't purely clinical.

I actually brought a sample home from an event and decided to try them myself. A big part of my own perimenopause experience had been poor sleep alongside histamine-type symptoms.

The first night I took them, I slept like I hadn't slept in a week. I kept taking them and, personally, the improvement in my sleep quality has been significant, alongside a noticeable improvement in my histamine symptoms.

That's my experience, not a promise of what they'll do for everyone. Perimenopause support should always consider the individual, and soy isoflavones are just one tool among the many things we can use to support this transition.

I always consider symptom relief, but i’m also thinking about the bigger picture. What are we doing now to protect our bones for the decades ahead?

Address

Hobart, TAS
7000

Website

https://www.chantelyates.com.au/

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