Hoffman Natural Health

19/08/2026

New paper on the Glucose Ketone Index just published in Frontiers in Science.

Seyfried and colleagues make the case for GKI as a simple, trackable metabolic biomarker, one that reflects mitochondrial health and metabolic flexibility, not just blood sugar.

Improving metabolic health is a core pillar of how I approach both cancer risk reduction and recovery, this kind of tool fits right into that picture. Worth a read if you're curious about the metabolic terrain behind chronic disease.

This is how we build resilience.

28/07/2026

19/07/2026

If you've been diagnosed with cancer, you've probably heard your specific type, subtype, stage, receptor status. But there's another way of understanding cancer that's just as important, and far less talked about outside of research circles: the Hallmarks of Cancer.

Hallmarks of cancer are traits that cancer cells share, regardless of where in the body they start.

These hallmarks are what makes cancer cells thrive when they shouldn’t, traits like the ability to grow without normal "stop" signals, to hide from the immune system, or to build their own blood supply to keep feeding themselves.

Your medical treatment already targets many of these hallmarks directly, that's much of what chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and other treatments are designed to do.

My work looks at the same hallmarks from a different angle: using nutrition, lifestyle changes, and, when safe and appropriate, evidence-based botanicals or supplements, to support your body in countering them alongside your treatment, or during recovery afterward.

Research increasingly shows this kind of approach can help optimize how well your treatment works, and how well you tolerate it.

You've probably already seen me reference these hallmarks in past posts, they come up often in how I think about cases.

Going forward, look out for posts where I address each one separately: what it means in plain language, and what you can actually do about it.

This is how we build resilience.

06/07/2026

Food As Medicine~Garlic

"What should I actually be eating?" is one of the most common questions I hear from patients.

It's part of why I am building Eating for Resilience, and its cohort-specific version, the Beyond Breast Cancer Food Guide.

Garlic is one of the foods in both as it has anticancer properties, and helps build overall immunity.

These are the last five heads from last year's solstice harvest, which means we've gone through just under two heads a week since then!

I add garlic to almost every savory meal I make, but I know not everyone is in the habit of doing this.

Crush or mince it, then let it rest 5-10 minutes before cooking - this gives an enzyme (alliinase) time to form allicin, the compound behind most of garlic's benefit, before heat destroys it.

Eat it often: some raw each week (dressings, pesto), some cooked, added near the end.

In preclinical research, garlic's compounds have been studied in relation to several Hallmarks of Cancer:

Resisting Cell Death — supporting apoptosis in tumor cells

Inducing Angiogenesis — limiting new blood vessel growth

Activating Invasion & Metastasis — interfering with spread signaling

As with all herbal medicine, garlic should always be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

29/06/2026

Most standard labs will tell you your vitamin D is fine at 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). The breast cancer research tells a different story.

An analysis of two randomized trials found breast cancer risk was notably lower in those with levels of 60 ng/mL (150 nmol/L) or above.

That's a huge gap between what's considered "normal" and what appears protective.

Diet and sun exposure can help, the best food sources are fatty fish (think SMASH: Sardines, Mackerel, Anchovies, Salmon, Herring) egg yolks, and UV-exposed mushrooms.

But food alone rarely gets you to optimal levels.

And while sunlight is your most efficient source, some people carry genetic variants that impair vitamin D conversion, meaning they can be doing everything right and still be below optimal.

Estrogen also plays a role in vitamin D activation, so if you are post-menopausal, on an aromatase inhibitor, or ovarian suppression therapy, your ability to reach optimal levels is significantly reduced.

D3 supplementation is almost always indicated in the beyond breast cancer women I work with.

This is why testing matters, and why knowing your number, not just whether you're "in range," is worth paying attention to.

If you haven't had your vitamin D checked recently, it's worth asking for a 25(OH)D test and working with a practitioner who looks at optimal levels, not just the standard reference range.

This is how we build resilience.

27/06/2026

Hi all - I am sharing some news about the direction of my practice.

I know I’ve been pretty quiet on here lately - I've had some time to settle in to our new home (and garden!) here in Taihape - which has been a welcome change from the constant moving. I have really enjoyed this period of focused reflection - and I have exciting news to share!

After years in clinic, the greatest need I've seen has been supporting people through cancer.

From reducing risk, navigating treatment with integrative care, or rebuilding resilience after treatment, this is the work that most calls to me, and where I feel I can make the most meaningful difference.

So I made it official.

I've completed clinical training in naturopathic oncology and joined the Society for Integrative Oncology and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Going forward, my practice will focus exclusively on oncology patients (at any stage, any diagnosis) with a particular depth of experience in breast cancer.

Don't worry, If you are a current non-oncology patient, I will continue to support you exactly as I always have.

For those interested in integrative cancer care (for yourself, or someone you love) my updated website is the best place to start. And if you'd like to receive occasional updates on the latest integrative oncology research and practical ways to build resilience, you're welcome to join my mailing list.

Wishing you strength and grace in these challenging times.

24/06/2026

From my garden to my dispensary

Echinacea purpurea is one of the most gratifying herbs to grow. It flowers generously for months, brings that deep maroon to the garden, and feeds the bees, too.

While researching this plant I discovered that echi comes from the Greek echinos (latin meaning sea urchin or hedgehog) referring to the spiky seed head (the same root as echidna for us in the Southern hemisphere). Look at the seed head and you'll see exactly why. It's the kind of detail that makes you love a plant even more.

I harvest all my medicinal herbs at peak potency (for flowers, this means around the full moon, in the morning just after the dew has evaporated.

And potency matters! Genuinely potent echinacea causes a distinct tingling, almost numbing sensation on the tongue. If yours doesn't do that, it isn't working. The trials (you may have heard of some) that found echinacea ineffective almost certainly used substandard preparations or were inappropriately dosed.

Despite some controversial trials, Echinacea's long traditional use for immune support is well established, but its value extends further than most people realize.

In integrative oncology context, E. purpurea activates natural killer cells (your immune system's surveillance against abnormal cells), supports immunity during treatment, and builds long-term cancer resilience.

Available soon as dried herb from my dispensary - grown and processed by me in Taihape NZ.

As with all herbal medicine, echinacea should always be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Hallmarks of Cancer addressed:

*·Avoiding immune destruction - primary mechanism via NK cell activation*

*Tumour-promoting inflammation - COX-2 modulation, anti-inflammatory constituents

*Resisting cell death - pro-apoptotic activity in select cell lines

22/06/2026

Even if your dentist gives you a clean bill of health - that's not the same as a healthy oral microbiome.

For those of you that know me or have worked with me, you know I take oral health VERY seriously for exactly this reason - and it’s great to see it backed by science.

Research out of Johns Hopkins published in January of this year has found that Fusobacterium nucleatum (the oral bacteria associated with gum disease) travels through the bloodstream, settles in breast tissue, damages DNA, and triggers inflammation.

The infection appears to make cancer cells more aggressive and increases their resistance to chemotherapy. Individuals with BRCA1 mutations are notably more vulnerable, as their cells more easily absorb and retain the pathogen.

In animal models, its presence accelerated tumor growth and helped cancer spread to the lungs. It also made cancer cells more aggressive and harder to treat with chemotherapy.

This is the kind of evidence I build my practice around, because what happens in your mouth, your gut, and your environment impacts your breast tissue.

This is how we build resilience.

02/11/2025

25/09/2025

Have you had your daily dose of greens? They are a great source of magnesium and folate (which are commonly deficient these days).

They are also excellent for improving methylation, immune health, the gut microbiome and bowel regularity. And so much more.

Plus, they are really easy to grow yourself and you don't need a massive garden. We have been enjoying a salad each day from a roughly 6 square foot area.