Archive

May 2020

29/05/2020
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Childrens Immune Health

In my previous blog I talked about the best ways to support your immune system this cold and flu season – this time, it’s all about the kids! Below, I discuss what you can do to support their immune function and help keep them healthy this winter. As I said at the beginning of my previous blog, cold and flu season tends to start mid-September – just after the children have gone back to school. The indoor environment, central heating and close contact make schools the perfect breeding ground for... Read More

29/05/2020

The Science Behind Green Tea

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 Glucomannen to help fill you up more and so eat less. I am continuing this theme, having a look at the claims and the science behind two other weight loss products – Green Coffee and Green Tea. Starting with Green Tea. WHAT IS GREEN TEA? Green and Black Tea both originate from the same tea plant – Camellia Sinensis. To produce black... Read More

29/05/2020
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Christmas: The Most Stressful Time Of The Year?

THE STRESSFUL SEASON? What are the biggest causes of stress and anxiety over the holiday season? According to a survey carried out in 2015, the biggest issue over the festive season is money – with as many as 47% of us being worried about finances.  The other big concerns are: Over-eating and lack of exercise (16% of people) Anxiety about being able to choose the right gift (15% of people) Worry about the planning involved with the big day (12% of people). All this seems to back up a commonly... Read More

29/05/2020
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DHA & Brain Development in Children

Childhood is a period of huge brain growth and maturation. A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from birth to the age of three – producing more than a million neural connections each second. Our latest blog discusses this development, in particular the important role of Omega-3 DHA fatty acids. The development of the brain in childhood is influenced by many factors, including a child’s relationships, experiences and environment. Omega 3 fats, especially DHA, are also important in this growth and development, and as children continue to age.... Read More

29/05/2020

Teen Health: Supplements to support acne and stretch marks

My daughter is 14, and I keep expressing my surprise that she is still a delight to spend time with! I remember all too vividly from my own teenage years the angst, the mood swings, the anxiety and the skin problems – so, in the next few blogs, I am going to have a look at various aspects of teenage health and the natural products which could be helpful. One thing which many people associate with the teenage years is skin problems. Acne is a problem for many and can... Read More

28/05/2020
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Eat, Drink & Be Merry: Top Tips for Christmas Over-Indulgence

Last week I had a look at the ways I try and stay calm in the often-chaotic run up to the festive season. This week I am going to have a quick look at the best ways to eat, drink and be merry – hopefully without paying the price for it! EATING RICH FOODS & AVOIDING INDIGESTION One thing most of us are guilty of at this time of year is eating a lot of extra and rich food, which we would not usually consume – and then being surprised when... Read More

28/05/2020

The Truth About Sleep & Prebiotics

As a Nutritional Therapist one of the things I am asked about a lot by my clients is how to improve their quality and quantity of sleep. For this reason, I watched with great interest the program presented by Dr Michael Mosely on the BBC – ‘The Truth About Sleep’. INSOMNIA IS A GROWING ISSUE: I was not surprised by the revelation that over the last 60 years the amount of sleep we are getting as a nation has decreased by an average of 1-2 hours, with very few adults... Read More

28/05/2020
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Meet Anandamide – The Bliss Molecule

MEET ANANDAMIDE – THE BLISS MOLECULE Anandamide, which can also be referred to as AEA for simplicity, is the main neurotransmitter used by our Endocannabinoid system. Its name comes from ‘anada’ – the Sanskrit word for bliss or happiness – but anandamide has been found to play a much wider role in our health and wellbeing. WHAT IS THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM? Every living creature has an endocannabinoid system. A relatively new discovery, the system was only identified in the 1990’s as part of the research into the effects of cannabis,... Read More

28/05/2020
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MCT Oil: Reviewing the Evidence

With the popularity of ketogenic diets and the ‘bullet-proof’ coffee regime, one food which appears to be gaining popularity in the weight loss arena is MCT Oil. In this post I aim to review the research behind MCT and how helpful it may actually be. WHAT IS MCT OIL? MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides – a type of fat which is low in our diets, and which has had a lot of interest in recent years. Generally, MCT oil is sourced from coconut oil. MCT OIL vs. COCONUT OIL... Read More

27/05/2020

Eat, Drink & Be Merry – Beat Christmas Over-Indulgence

The office Christmas party.  The get together with friends.  The family gatherings. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve!  There can be no doubt that this time of year can be, for many, a time of over-indulgence.  Too much food, and – sometimes – too much drink!   In this blog, I’m sharing my favourite products to stock up on – to help prevent the after effects of that over-indulgence – Digestive Enzymes & Milk Thistle. WHY DO DIGESTIVE ENZYMES HELP? For those of us who often end up eating more... Read More