y Araleena Isse | Naturopath & Certified Metabolic Balance Practitioner
After more than 20 years working as a naturopath, I've had the privilege of helping people navigate all sorts of health challenges.
Digestive problems, chronic inflammation, fatigue, hormonal changes, complex health conditions and everything in between.
And while I've seen some wonderful improvements through naturopathic treatment, there was something that had been bothering me for quite some time.
I had a group of clients who were getting better, but they weren't necessarily getting well enough to stop needing me.
They'd improve with treatment, but ongoing herbs, supplements and regular consultations were often needed to maintain those improvements.
We were making progress, yet it sometimes felt as though we were working incredibly hard against something that kept pushing back.
And I started asking myself whether there was a more effective way to help these people.
That question eventually led me to Metabolic Balance.
I recently spoke with Cherry Wills on the Metabolic Balance ANZ Podcast about that journey, why I decided to become a practitioner and how the program has influenced my clinical work.
When Good Naturopathic Treatment Wasn't Quite Enough
Earlier in my clinical career, I noticed a pattern among some of my clients with complex health conditions.
We might improve their digestive symptoms, reduce discomfort or help them manage ongoing inflammation.
But then another issue would arise.
Or an old symptom would return.
And we'd find ourselves adjusting treatment again.
Sometimes this process continued over several years.
What particularly interested me was that I was seeing this pattern more frequently among people who were also carrying excess weight or struggling with metabolic health.
Many were already eating what most people would consider a healthy diet.
They were making a genuine effort.
But their symptoms remained difficult to manage, and they often needed ongoing support.
I began looking for a nutritional approach that might address some of the underlying factors contributing to this picture.
Initially, I was searching for a more effective weight-management option for people with chronic health concerns.
But what I eventually found was something that changed how I thought about the role of everyday nutrition in clinical practice.
Discovering Metabolic Balance
When I first came across Metabolic Balance, I was sceptical.
The program sounded promising, but after so many years in natural medicine, I was cautious about anything that appeared to offer an unusually straightforward solution.
I remember thinking, this sounds too good to be true.
But there was enough in the approach to interest me.
I booked a call with Cherry Wills to learn more, and that conversation encouraged me to investigate further.
Eventually, I decided to complete the practitioner training.
What I found particularly interesting was how the program brought together different aspects of nutrition and metabolic physiology.
Much of the underlying information was familiar from my naturopathic education.
But the way it was being organised and applied gave me a different framework for supporting clients.
I could see how the structure might help people establish nutritional habits that were easier to understand, implement and maintain.
And importantly, I could see how it might complement the naturopathic treatment I was already providing.
My Own Experience of Midlife Weight Changes
There was also a personal reason I was interested.
As I moved through my forties, I started noticing gradual changes in my weight.
Nothing particularly dramatic.
But despite eating exceptionally well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I was gaining approximately a kilogram each year.
And I couldn't seem to stop it.
As a naturopath, I understood many of the physiological changes that can occur through midlife.
But understanding something intellectually doesn't necessarily mean you've found the right way to address it in your own body.
When I began following Metabolic Balance myself, I noticed a significant change in how I responded to food.
The gradual weight gain that had been concerning me settled, and my relationship with managing my weight became much more relaxed.
It was one thing to learn about the program professionally.
It was another to experience a different approach to eating for myself.
That experience gave me greater confidence in bringing the principles into my clinical work.
Turning the Tide on Complex Health Problems
One of the analogies I shared with Cherry during our conversation was the idea of turning the tide.
When someone is living with multiple health concerns, it can feel as though the tide is constantly coming in.
Their symptoms keep arriving.
Their energy is limited.
Their digestion may be unpredictable.
They're working hard to improve their health, but progress can be slow.
As a practitioner, you're trying to address these concerns while the person's everyday nutritional habits may not be providing the support they need.
And sometimes, even a generally healthy diet isn't quite right for that particular individual.
What I've found with Metabolic Balance is that establishing a more suitable nutritional foundation can change the clinical picture.
As some clients begin experiencing improvements in their digestion, energy or metabolic wellbeing, it becomes easier to identify which other concerns still need attention.
It's almost as though the tide goes out.
Suddenly, we can see what's underneath.
And I can begin working in a much more focused way.
This doesn't mean food is the solution to every health condition, or that complex diseases can be resolved simply through dietary change.
But when someone's nutritional foundations are better established, other aspects of their healthcare can sometimes become easier to manage.
That's been one of the most valuable changes in my clinical approach.
Why I Don't Believe Healthy Eating Needs to Be Complicated
One of my favourite things about Metabolic Balance is how straightforward the food itself can be.
We're not talking about expensive powders, elaborate recipes or foods that are difficult to find.
We're generally talking about everyday wholefoods, prepared in ways that suit the individual.
And while the program begins with a structured plan, I don't see that structure as something that needs to dominate someone's life indefinitely.
The aim is to learn which foods and combinations support their wellbeing, then gradually develop confidence using that knowledge.
I often find that clients become more adventurous with their food rather than less.
They discover vegetables, proteins and meal combinations they hadn't previously considered.
They become more familiar with how different foods affect their energy, digestion and appetite.
And over time, those choices become increasingly natural.
One of the things I particularly appreciate is that I can also adapt the introduction of the program.
Some clients are ready to make substantial changes immediately.
Others feel completely overwhelmed at the thought of changing how they eat.
With those clients, we might begin with one meal at a time.
We work out what feels achievable and build from there.
Because successful nutritional change isn't about demonstrating how perfectly someone can follow instructions.
It's about helping them establish habits they can genuinely maintain.
Sometimes a Small Willingness to Change Is Enough
During the podcast, I shared the story of one of my longstanding clients, a woman in her late seventies.
She'd been working with me for quite some time, and we'd made progress with her health and weight management.
But despite her commitment, we had reached a point where further progress was proving difficult.
When I introduced the possibility of Metabolic Balance, she wasn't particularly enthusiastic.
She was comfortable with the way she ate and wasn't convinced that changing her diet would make much difference.
But she trusted me enough to give it a try.
When I presented her food plan, she looked at it with considerable scepticism.
Many of the foods were things she wouldn't normally have chosen.
I asked whether she'd be willing to try it for two weeks.
She agreed.
And when she returned for her follow-up appointment, she announced, with her usual sense of humour, that she liked me again.
Over time, she experienced substantial changes in her weight and lifestyle.
But what stays with me most isn't the number on the scales.
It's how much her life opened up.
Beforehand, her activities were relatively limited.
Later, she was travelling overseas, enjoying family outings and doing things she hadn't felt comfortable doing for years.
I particularly remember her excitement about going shopping for bathers.
She'd avoided wearing them for much of her adult life, yet suddenly she was enjoying the experience of trying them on and choosing what she wanted to wear.
For me, that's what makes these experiences so rewarding.
It's not simply about changing someone's weight.
It's about helping create opportunities for them to participate more fully in their life.
This is an individual client experience and isn't a prediction of results for others.
When Nutrition Changes the Digestive Picture
Another client I discussed had been living with Crohn's disease and longstanding digestive problems.
We'd worked together naturopathically for many years and had achieved meaningful improvements, but her digestive symptoms remained difficult to manage.
When we introduced Metabolic Balance, she was understandably hesitant.
She'd already tried numerous interventions and wasn't particularly interested in another new approach.
However, she was willing to explore it.
During the first couple of months, she reported improvements in her bowel habits and digestive comfort, alongside other changes in how she was feeling.
What interested me was that a more consistent nutritional approach appeared to be contributing something useful alongside the care we'd already established.
Crohn's disease is a serious inflammatory bowel condition requiring appropriate medical management. Nutritional interventions need to be adapted carefully, and symptom improvement doesn't necessarily indicate that intestinal inflammation has resolved.
But this experience reinforced my interest in how important everyday nutrition can be within a broader treatment plan.
And it reminded me that even people who have tried many different approaches may still have opportunities to improve their wellbeing.
Helping Clients Become Less Dependent on Treatment
One of the reasons I became interested in Metabolic Balance was that I wanted my clients to graduate.
I didn't want someone to need regular appointments with me indefinitely simply because they hadn't learned how to nourish themselves in a way that supported their health.
Of course, some people have conditions that require ongoing treatment and professional support.
But for others, I wanted to find a way to help them become more independent.
That's what I particularly value about the educational component of Metabolic Balance.
People don't simply receive a list of foods.
We spend time exploring how their bodies respond to different meals, how to recognise hunger and energy patterns, and how to adapt their eating habits to different circumstances.
They begin learning skills they can use well beyond the initial program.
And as they become more confident, they often need less guidance.
To me, that's a wonderful outcome.
Good healthcare shouldn't necessarily create lifelong dependence on a practitioner.
Where appropriate, it should help people develop the knowledge and confidence to manage more of their own wellbeing.
Learning to Eat for Life
I often explain the four phases of Metabolic Balance using the analogy of driving a car.
When you first learn to drive, you need guidance.
You concentrate on every movement, every gear change and every decision.
But as you become more experienced, those skills become increasingly natural.
And you learn that different driving conditions require different gears.
I think about the phases of Metabolic Balance in much the same way.
The early phases establish structure and help you learn the fundamentals.
Later, you begin exploring greater flexibility and understanding how to apply those principles to everyday life.
You might be travelling, eating at restaurants or enjoying family celebrations.
Or you might recognise that your usual habits have slipped and decide to return to a more structured routine for a while.
The important thing is that you know how.
You don't have to start from scratch every time.
You've developed a set of skills that you can continue adapting as your circumstances change.
And that's where I think sustainable nutrition becomes genuinely empowering.
It's Not About Perfection
Something I regularly tell clients is that I don't expect them to be perfect.
In fact, I think the pursuit of perfect eating can become a barrier to long-term success.
Life changes.
We have busy weeks, holidays, family commitments and unexpected challenges.
Sometimes we make choices that don't leave us feeling particularly good.
And that's normal.
What matters is developing enough awareness to recognise how you're responding and what you might want to do differently next time.
I often encourage clients to ask themselves a simple question:
What happens when I eat this?
Not because every symptom can be traced to a particular food, but because paying attention to patterns can help us make more informed decisions.
When we combine that awareness with appropriate nutritional knowledge and clinical support, people can become much more confident in managing their eating habits.
And that confidence often makes the whole process feel less restrictive.
Why I Still Love This Work
After more than two decades in naturopathic practice, I still find it enormously rewarding to see people experience meaningful improvements in their health.
Introducing Metabolic Balance has given me another way to support that process.
It's helped me think differently about nutritional foundations and how they interact with complex health concerns.
It's also reinforced something I've always believed.
People need more than instructions.
They need understanding, encouragement and an approach that works within the realities of their lives.
And when they begin feeling better, they often discover that change is more achievable than they'd imagined.
For me, the most rewarding outcome isn't simply seeing someone complete a 12-week program.
It's seeing what they do with the knowledge afterwards.
Travelling.
Enjoying meals with friends.
Feeling more confident in their body.
Managing their wellbeing with greater independence.
And getting on with living their life.
Because ultimately, the purpose of improving health isn't to spend more time thinking about health. It's to have the freedom and capacity to enjoy life.
Listen to the Podcast
I joined Cherry Wills on the Metabolic Balance ANZ Podcast to discuss my journey into Metabolic Balance, my experience as a naturopath, and why I've incorporated structured nutritional support into my clinical practice.
Watch or listen to the full interview on my Podcasts & Speaking page.
About Araleena
Araleena Isse is a degree-qualified naturopath (BHSc Naturopathy) and Certified Metabolic Balance Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience.
She founded Alchemy Medicine, now based in Eltham, Melbourne, where she works with clients in person and online on digestive health, metabolic wellbeing, chronic inflammation and sustainable nutritional change.
Learn more at Alchemy Medicine.