Dr Elizabeth Steels – Nourishing Adolescent Health Through Nutritional and Herbal Interventions

In this episode, Elizabeth (Beth) Steels delve into the intricate world of adolescent health, emphasizing the importance of collaborative goal-setting with teenagers while nurturing an understanding of their developmental journey and its influence on behavior. Exploring the role of herbs and nutrients, Beth uncovers holistic approaches to support their well-being during this pivotal stage of life.

In this Episode:

2:12 - Welcome Beth

2:54 – Meeting the needs and overcoming challenges specific to 15-19 year olds.

5:13 – Increasing independence and resulting changes in dietary behavours, sleep patterns, and physical activity

8:31 – Key nutrients for this age bracket.

11:46 – General and unusual symptoms of iron deficiency in teenagers, including behavoural changes (e.g. irritability).

15:45 – Emotional and mood changes, building resilience and the importance of specific nutrients

18:10 – Sedentary lifestyle behavours and the benefits of exercise for neuroelasticity

20:23 – Understanding sleep needs and rhythms of adolescents and specific herbs for sleep support.

25:37 – Herbal considerations for late adolescents

27:09 – Nutrients to assist with sleep

28:32 – Herbs and nutrients for energy support

34:19 – The importance of working with teenagers and meeting them where they are at. and understanding their behaviour is a reflection of mental and physical development at this age.

36:38 – Building resilience and the importance of nutrition to adapt to stressors

37:48 – Long hours of screen time and gaming, how to navigate, and nutrients to support.

47:58 - Understanding that teens face the same challenges as adults when it comes to making good food choices in the face of marketing companies.

49.50 - Conclusion and thank you

Bio: Elizabeth is a clinical biochemist and nutritionist with over 30 years experience in clinical practice, research, clinical trials, formulation and regulatory affairs. She runs a consulting and research clinic in New Farm, Brisbane. She is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, and has a growing team of clinical naturopaths enrolled in MPHIL and PHD students, also becoming researchers to further support natural health research. The projects vary from metabolic disease and diabetes, pain and peripheral neuropathy, GIT health, candida overgrowth, to probiotics for bone health in menopause. She is well published and often speaks at academic and industry events.