Soma & Soul by Samantha

Soma & Soul by Samantha 🌿Naturopath student~Permaculture~organic gardening~homesteading~sustainability~Follow along on my journey🌿

12/10/2026

LET’S TALK COOKING OILS & FATS!
Something I think we all need to be more aware of is what we’re actually cooking our food in! Not all fats are created equal, and understanding how they respond to heat and their nutritional benefits is so important.
My four main oils and fats I use at home are tallow, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and ghee.

TALLOW – My favourite for high heat cooking!
Tallow is rendered beef fat and is relatively stable at high temperatures, making it less prone to oxidation than many oils rich in polyunsaturated fats. It contains saturated and monounsaturated fats, stearic acid, oleic acid, small amounts of CLA and varying amounts of fat soluble vitamins A and E. Perfect for frying, roasting and searing!

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL – Liquid gold!
Rich in monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, polyphenols, antioxidants and vitamin E. Olive oil is amazing for cardiovascular health! I personally prefer using it for low heat cooking, salads and dressings to preserve its beneficial compounds.

COCONUT OIL
Another great option. Rich in lauric acid, with smaller amounts of caprylic and capric acids, and antioxidant compounds in virgin coconut oil. Great for baking and cooking!

GHEE – Clarified butter!
Rich in saturated and monounsaturated fats, with small amounts of vitamins A, E, K and butyric acid. Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter, making it great for sautéing, roasting and higher temperature cooking.

NOW LET’S TALK VEGETABLE AND CANOLA OILS!
I would stay away from all vegetable & canola oils as these oils are highly processed and highly inflammatory. Omega-6 fats are chemically less stable than other types of fat. They break down easily when exposed to heat, light, or oxygen. By the time most vegetable oils make it to your kitchen, they are already oxidized or rancid. Oxidized fats are highly inflammatory and can cause many inflammatory diseases and contribute to oxidative stress in the body.

I want to help people to become more aware of what you’re cooking with! Choose quality fats, understand how they respond to heat and get back to nourishing your body with real, whole foods!

THE DIRTY DOZEN: MAKING ORGANIC MORE AFFORDABLE. We all know buying organic can be costly, especially when feeding a fam...
21/09/2026

THE DIRTY DOZEN: MAKING ORGANIC MORE AFFORDABLE.

We all know buying organic can be costly, especially when feeding a family!
If your budget allows, I would recommend prioritising these fruits and vegetables when buying organic, as they are commonly highlighted for having higher pesticide residues in Australia.

The Dirty Dozen
* Strawberries

* Spinach

* Apples

* Blueberries

* Kale & mustard greens

* Grapes

* peaches

* Nectarines

* Green beans

* Capsicums / bell peppers

* Cherries

One extra I would add is wheat! Buying organic flour is another one I would recommend prioritising if your budget allows.
Another great option is growing some of these yourself! It helps cut costs and gives you more control over what goes onto your food.
You don’t need to buy everything organic. It’s about knowing what to prioritise, making informed choices and doing what works for your family’s budget.

Introducing Soma & Soul | A little rebrand, a big dream. 🤍I’m so excited to share the new name and branding for my futur...
18/09/2026

Introducing Soma & Soul | A little rebrand, a big dream. 🤍
I’m so excited to share the new name and branding for my future naturopathy practice Soma & Soul.
I had originally planned to wait until I graduated to start playing around with business names and branding, but this name just found me. And the more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the meaning behind it.
Soma derived from the Greek word meaning body.
Soul representing the emotional and spiritual aspects of who we are.
Together, Soma & Soul represents everything I want my future practice to embody.
My passion for naturopathy has always been about holism looking at the whole person, not just the physical body or a collection of symptoms.
Our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing are interconnected. I want to create a space where people feel heard, supported and empowered to understand their bodies, find balance and truly thrive.

Because to me, true health is about so much more than just the physical body. It’s about understanding the connection between our mind, body and soul, addressing the root causes of imbalance, and nurturing every aspect of our wellbeing so we can feel our best and truly thrive. 🤍

Am I jumping about 10 steps ahead of myself when I still have studying to finish? Absolutely! But when something feels this aligned with your vision, why wait?
Soma & Soul is here to stay, and I cannot wait to bring this little dream to life.
In the mean time keep following along on my learning journey.

Samantha x
Soma & Soul | Nurture your body. Restore your balance.

🌿 Herb of the Week | St Mary’s ThistleBotanical name: Silybum marianumToday’s herb of the week is St Mary’s Thistle, als...
17/09/2026

🌿 Herb of the Week | St Mary’s Thistle
Botanical name: Silybum marianum
Today’s herb of the week is St Mary’s Thistle, also known as Milk Thistle.
St Mary’s Thistle is a hepatic herb, meaning it has traditionally been used to support liver health and function.
I absolutely love this herb and have been using it myself for a while now!
One of its key constituents is silymarin, a group of compounds known for their antioxidant and liver protective properties.

What I find so fascinating is just how much our liver actually does. From metabolising nutrients and breaking down hormones to supporting our body’s natural detoxification pathways, it plays such an important role in our overall health.

And these are only some of its uses! There is so much more to learn about this fascinating herb and its actions within the body.

Honestly, this is one of my favourite parts of studying naturopathy. Being able to dive deeper into herbal medicine, understand how these plants work within the body and continue building my knowledge is something I absolutely love. 🌱

Swipe through to learn more. 🌱
Stay tuned for next week’s Herb of the Week!

Herb of the Week | Dandelion RootAs I continue my naturopathy studies, I’ve been going back through my herbal monographs...
03/09/2026

Herb of the Week | Dandelion Root
As I continue my naturopathy studies, I’ve been going back through my herbal monographs and revisiting some of the beautiful herbs I’ve learnt about along the way.
So I thought, why not share some of that knowledge here too? 🌱
Each week I’ll be choosing a different herb, looking at its traditional uses, herbal actions and simple ways it has been prepared and used.
First up Dandelion Root 🌼
Such a simple little plant, but a beautiful example of a traditional bitter herb and how bitters have long been used to support digestion.
Swipe through to learn a little more & find a simple dandelion root tea preparation you can try at home.
Just a naturopath student sharing what I’m learning along the way 🤍🌿

Things I have in my home that just make sense for our lifestyle as a naturopath student 🌿These are some of the things we...
27/08/2026

Things I have in my home that just make sense for our lifestyle as a naturopath student 🌿
These are some of the things we’ve slowly added and swapped over the years to better support our family’s health. It didn’t happen overnight it’s been years of small changes that have now become second nature.

🌱 Natural medicine & homeopathy - Our go to when someone starts feeling a little crook.
🌱 Ultra low EMF sauna – A non negotiable for our family for relaxation, stress support and overall wellbeing.
🌱 Home gym – After completing 75 Hard, consistent movement has become part of our daily lives.
🌱 Low tox cleaning products – Simple options with ingredients I’m comfortable using around my family.
🌱 Organic, good quality food – I buy in bulk where possible to help cut costs.
🌱 Sourdough, fermented foods & kombucha – Staples in our home to support a healthy and diverse gut.
🌱 Natural skincare & personal care – I’m not perfect, but I try my best! Especially deodorant and no fluoride tooth paste.
🌱Grass fed meat – Knowing where our food comes from matters to me.
🌱Fire c***r – An absolute household must!
🌱A freezer full of bones – Always ready for a nourishing batch of bone broth!
There are many more things I could share, but these are just some of the swaps we’ve made.
You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with one small change at a time it all adds up! 🌿

What Does It Take to Become a Naturopath? 🌿I’m often asked what I’m studying, what naturopathy actually involves, and wh...
25/08/2026

What Does It Take to Become a Naturopath? 🌿

I’m often asked what I’m studying, what naturopathy actually involves, and whether becoming a naturopath requires formal qualifications.
I thought I’d share a little more about the journey. 🤍

Becoming a qualified naturopath involves years of dedicated study and training, with pathways including a four year Bachelor degree or a three year Advanced Diploma, depending on the institution and course.

Throughout my studies, I’m learning across a wide range of areas, including:

🌿 Biochemistry
🌿 Human Biology
🌿 Herbal Medicine
🌿 Pharmacology
🌿 Nutrition
🌿 Counselling
🌿 Clinical Pathology
🌿 Homeopathy
🌿 Work Safe Practices

Naturopathy is about so much more than herbs and supplements. It’s about building a deeper understanding of the human body, nutrition, health and wellbeing, and learning how different aspects of our lives can work together to support overall wellness.

There is still so much for me to learn, and that’s one of the things I love most about this journey. I’m really excited to continue growing my knowledge, gaining experience and working towards becoming a qualified naturopath. 🌿🤍

Thyroid Health🌱This experience has shown me exactly where I want to go!Throughout my naturopathy studies, I’ve been thin...
24/08/2026

Thyroid Health🌱
This experience has shown me exactly where I want to go!
Throughout my naturopathy studies, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to specialise in and recently, it became very clear: thyroid health.
This has become personal for me. After years of my thyroid fluctuating between underactive and overactive, I pushed to have my thyroid antibodies tested and discovered I have Hashimoto’s with subclinical hypothyroidism.
When I asked, “So what’s the plan going forward?” the response I was given was essentially, “There isn’t really much you can do other than sit back and wait until it gets worse, and eventually you’ll go on medication.”
This is absolutely not okay.
I left feeling completely unsupported. I asked about nutrition, gut health and whether there were things I could be doing now to support my thyroid and I was told that it wouldn’t help.
But I believe there is so much more we can explore. 🌿
I want to understand in depth the gut-thyroid connection, nutrient status, T4 → T3 conversion, autoimmune triggers, stress and the HPA axis, nutrition, lifestyle and natural medicine and how all of these pieces can contribute to supporting thyroid health.
I want people to feel supported and I also want to be able to give people hope, options that actually work and programs to help and support their thyroid before it does become worse, rather than telling them to simply wait until they become worse.
I’ll be exploring many paths of natural support throughout my own journey, and this experience has made me realise that this is where I want to specialise when I become a naturopath.
I want to help people understand that there is more they can do to support their health and, where appropriate, work towards improving autoimmune thyroid health and remission.
I’ve definitely found my area. 🤍🌿
Now… back to the textbooks! 😂📚

🌿I recently booked my daughter in for a routine blood test nothing urgent, just a general check in. When I called the cl...
19/02/2026

🌿I recently booked my daughter in for a routine blood test nothing urgent, just a general check in. When I called the clinic, I was asked why she hadn’t been there in over a year.
I answered she hasn’t needed to. She’s been healthy.
I was then told that to “keep our spot,” we need to be a regular patient.
It really made me pause.
When did not being sick become a problem?
When did consistent health become something that needs explaining?
We’re living in a time where illness is so common it’s almost expected fatigue, gut issues, anxiety, poor sleep, low immunity. So many people feel unwell and assume it’s just normal.
Yet so much of modern life works against our wellbeing:
Ultra processed foods
Chronic stress
Environmental toxins
Sleep deprivation
Sedentary routines
Constant stimulation
Modern medicine is extraordinary and essential in acute and emergency care but so much of the system is centred around managing disease rather than fostering true vitality.
And yes… there is profit in sickness.
Preventative health, however, is built quietly and consistently through lifestyle, nourishment, nervous system support, and addressing root causes.
In our home, we don’t wait for illness to take action we support the body daily so it can function the way it’s designed to.
Grateful for the reminder that health is something we actively create.🌿🌿

🌿I’ve been a little quiet here lately, deep in study and learning with becoming a naturopath. The garden has continued t...
01/02/2026

🌿I’ve been a little quiet here lately, deep in study and learning with becoming a naturopath.
The garden has continued to grow slowly, even without the care it deserves, and it’s been a reminder of how much balance and regulation comes from staying connected to the earth. When I’m not spending time in the garden, I feel that absence in my body and nervous system.

Baby picked these pineapples a little early 🤍 hoping they still ripen they’re a sweet reminder that growth happens in its own time.
I’m really looking forward to returning to the garden through the cooler months, working with the seasons again. I can’t wait for this space to grow as well, to support healing, learning, and growth alongside others, much like my gardens 🌱

Address

Yeppoon, QLD

Website

Alerts

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

Shortcuts

Share

Category