Natures Aid

Over the next four weeks, Nutritional Therapist Jenny Logan will be answering all your questions about the Menopause – what it is, what to expect, and which natural remedies can help. What is the Menopause? The word menopause comes from Greek: Meno means ‘month’ Pausis means ‘to stop’ This is an accurate description as the menopause is the time of life when the monthly menstrual cycle stops. This usually occurs between the ages of 45-55. What causes Menopause? Women are born with a finite number of eggs cells in their... Read More

THE ‘SECOND BRAIN’ Human beings have a ‘second brain’ in the gut – a number of enteric cells, containing the same number of neurones as the brain of a cat, stretched out along the digestive tract.  These cells are in direct communication with the brain, via the Vagus Nerve.  This communication is not one way either – the gut influences the brain and the brain responds.  The gut bacteria produce a large number of neurotransmitters, which help and support the brain and mood: 95% Serotonin (our happy brain chemical) is... Read More

NATURAL HELP FOR HAYFEVER Wow – what a great Early May Bank Holiday weekend we just had! Loads of time spent outdoors in the sunshine – what could be better? Unless of course you suffer with hay fever – then it may not have been quite so wonderful. As everyone starts mowing their lawn and the trees break out with blossom, the hay fever sufferer finds their eyes starting to become red and swollen, their throat tickling and most often their nose streaming. As these symptoms hit, we are tempted... Read More

Co-Enzyme Q10 is one of the most important co-enzymes in our body. But what is it? How do we use it? And why should you consider a Co-Q-10 supplement? Nutritionist Jenny Logan explains all. WHAT IS CO-ENZYME Q10? Enzymes play a variety of roles in our bodies: digesting food, extracting nutrients and facilitating complex cellular reactions. In order to function properly, enzymes rely on co-enzymes, and Co-Enzyme-Q10 is one of the most important. Present in every single cell of the body, Co-Enzyme Q10 is needed for the production and release... Read More

Over the next few blogs I am going to have a look at the wide array of symptoms that can be linked to the menopause and peri-menopause. This week I’m discussing mood issues, including mood swings, low mood and anxiety: the hormonal causes, and the natural remedies which can help. The Hormonal Causes of Mood swings, Low Mood & Anxiety For more information on the hormonal cycle, refer to my ‘Introduction to the Hormonal Cycle’ earlier in this series. Oestrogen has a natural anti-depressant action, whilst progesterone is known to... Read More

In my previous blogs, I have been looking at ways to help support people who are wanting to lose weight: including the 5:2 diet and the use of Glucomannan to help fill you up more and so eat less. In my final blog in a series on natural ways to support weight loss, I am going to focus on the claims and science behind Green Coffee. WHAT IS GREEN COFFEE? Green Coffee is sourced from unroasted coffee beans. Rejecting the roasting process helps to preserve compounds called chlorogenic acids. Chlorogenic... Read More

Continuing my blog series on IBS, in this post I’m going to look at the subtype IBS-D – Irritable Bowel Syndrome where diarrhoea is the main symptom. (For my blog on IBS-C – IBS with constipation as the main symptom – click here.) HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS IBS-D? The symptoms most frequently reported for IBS-D are abdominal pain and discomfort, abdominal bloating, distension, urgency and – of course – diarrhoea. This complaint can be very uncomfortable, and indeed embarrassing, with some people struggling to leave the house on... Read More