Thinking about the garden and how we care for it over winter always reminds me of the gut microbiome. During winter, gardens naturally look very different from summer. There are times when we simply let the garden do its thing, tolerate a few weeds, and only step in when they begin taking over the flower beds or vegetable patch.

Lately, I've noticed mushrooms popping up throughout my garden. While they can sometimes indicate excess moisture, they also tell me that the soil underneath is busy breaking down organic matter — an important process that supports long-term soil health.

I often get asked what the difference is between a health coach, nutritionist, and clinical nutritionist. The tricky thing here in NZ is that the title of nutritionist is not protected, meaning, yes, many people can simply call themselves a nutritionist. Which is why it is important to know what qualifications a nutritionist has, who they are registered with and what level of experience they have.