The Meluka Australia Blog

When we talk about gut health at Meluka Australia, we usually focus on digestion, immunity and energy. But emerging research suggests the gut may influence more than most people realise - including aspects of cardiovascular and hormonal health that contribute to erectile function. For men, this connection is worth understanding. 1. Erections Are a Vascular Event An erection depends on healthy blood flow. The same endothelial lining that supports heart health also supports erectile function. When vascular health is compromised, performance can be affected. Interestingly, gut health plays a role in systemic inflammation and vascular integrity. An imbalanced microbiome has...

Have you ever noticed that your gut seems to change just before your period arrives?  One week, digestion feels steady and predictable. The next, you are bloated by lunchtime, craving something sweet, feeling unusually reactive, and wondering why your jeans suddenly feel tighter. Add a crowded commute, back-to-back meetings, too much coffee, and not enough time to cook, and your cycle can start to feel like something you simply manage rather than truly understand. If this sounds familiar, you are not imagining it. And you are far from alone. Many women notice clear shifts in digestion, mood, skin, and energy...

Iron plays an important role in how we feel each day. It supports energy levels, helps transport oxygen around the body, and contributes to immune health. But iron does not work in isolation. How well your body absorbs and uses iron is closely linked to the health of your gut.When digestion is working well, nutrients from food are more easily absorbed. When it is not, even a diet rich in iron may fall short. Understanding this relationship can help explain why gut health matters when supporting healthy iron levels.   How the Gut Influences Iron Absorption Iron is absorbed primarily...

For many of us, a diet soft drink feels like the perfect guilt-free indulgence, all the fizz and flavour without the calories. Yet emerging research on diet soft drinks and gut microbiome disruption paints a more concerning picture. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin in these beverages can alter gut bacteria balance, potentially fostering dysbiosis, inflammation, and metabolic shifts. 1 2 Disrupting the Balance Studies show these non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) reduce beneficial bacteria such as Clostridiaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus acidophilus while boosting pro-inflammatory strains like Proteobacteria and E. coli. A 2025 human trial found aspartame and sucralose...