Natures Aid

27/05/2020

What is healthy blood pressure?

WHY IS BLOOD PRESSURE IMPORTANT? Imagine a kink in a garden hose – it prevents water from moving through the hose as it should. As a result, the pressure behind the kink starts to build up until eventually something gives and the hose, the tap or the valves are damaged as the water seeks another way out. Blood circulates through the blood vessels, like water passing through a hose. It is pushed around the body by the beating of the heart. If the blood is pumped at a pressure which... Read More

27/05/2020
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Natural ways to support your teen through exam season

EXAM SEASON! A trying time for parents – and of course for teenagers, who feel the pressure to perform and achieve. I remember well the worries and revision, anxiety and brain freeze, and I am now watching my own daughter go through the same. For this reason, I have decided to share my thoughts on the natural ways we can help and support our teens through this demanding time. • ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE A BREAK: Generally, my daughter doesn’t need that much encouragement to stop revising – she is more... Read More

27/05/2020
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What is the Intermittent Fasting Diet Plan?

According to Google data, intermittent fasting was the most searched for diet trend in 2019. So, what exactly is it? Just another fad diet, or something more? DOES FASTING MEAN NO FOOD? The short answer here is no. The longer answer, as ever, is slightly more complex. There are two main versions of intermittent fasting: One is the 5:2 regime, made popular by Dr Michael Mosely; The other is called 16:8. Each balance their ‘fasting’ slightly differently. WHAT IS THE 5:2 DIET? The 5:2 diet plan is a regime where... Read More

27/05/2020
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Supporting your child’s immune system

The children heading back to school tends to herald the start of a cycle of illness – including colds, flu and tummy bugs. This is an unfortunate consequence of putting lots of children in close proximity, in warm rooms, and allowing them to breathe, sneeze and cough on each other! We can’t do anything about this, and it does lead to an easy spread of illness and infection. However, the good news is that there are things we can do which will help to strengthen our children’s immune systems and... Read More

27/05/2020

Milk Thistle: Celebration Without Consequence?

We all know the too-familiar symptoms that come as a result of overindulgence in food and drink at this time of year. But, is there anything we can do to help to relieve those symptoms, leaving us potentially free to celebrate without the consequences? The obvious, but very unpopular answer, would be to avoid overindulging in food or drink in the first place… Of course, for many, this is simply not an option! The other answer could lie in a traditional herbal remedy, known as milk thistle. THE HISTORY OF... Read More

27/05/2020

IBS Awareness Month: Supporting IBS-C

In the first instalment of my IBS blog series – What is IBS? – I talked about how this uncomfortable condition can be divided into three subtypes: IBS-C, IBS-D and IBS-M, depending on the main bowel symptom involved. • IBS-C – Constipation as the main symptom • IBS-D – Diarrhoea as the main symptom • IBS-M – Alternating diarrhoea and constipation. I also explored a number of lifestyle changes which could be beneficial to anyone living with IBS. This time, I’ll take a closer look at natural ways to help support those... Read More

27/05/2020

HRT: The risks & benefits

What is HRT? HRT stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy. Menopausal symptoms are often caused by falling hormone levels: the idea is that taking HRT will replace the hormones your body is no longer producing, therefore putting a stop to uncomfortable symptoms. For many women, this can feel like a life line – but what are the risks and benefits associated with this medication? The Benefits of HRT For some women the onset of menopause causes little or no problem, and for these lucky souls there is no need to use any... Read More

27/05/2020
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How does CBD Oil work? Introducing the Endocannabinoid System

CBD OIL – HOW DOES IT WORK? INTRODUCING THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM: Firstly, we need to understand that cannabinoids are not only found in cannabis plants! The human body produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. These naturally produced cannabinoids are used, by a system named the endocannabinoid system, to regulate how messages are sent, received and processed by the body cells. The endocannabinoid system exists throughout all the different body systems – the brain, the nervous system, the heart, liver, pancreas and reproductive system. It regulates messages being transmitted throughout the... Read More

27/05/2020

4 ways to support a healthy immune response, naturally

The immune system is the guardian of our health.  Its job is to provide protection from invaders, germs and damaged cells.  It is made up of a vast network of different cells, tissues and organs, which all work together to keep the body as healthy as possible. If we get run down, or our immune system is not working as well as it should, we are more likely to catch colds, coughs and flu.  These four natural ways to support a healthy immune response, could be helpful in trying to... Read More

Holiday bugs and bites prevention

In my previous blog post on holiday health, I talked about taking good bacteria supplements to help prevent holiday tummy. In this blog I will continue along the same theme, looking at ways to prevent other holiday bug problems. HEALTHY FLYING As soon as we sit on an aeroplane, my husband turns off the air vents that are blowing at us – I think if he could sit there holding his breath throughout the flight, he would! The air circulation system is the perfect way to ensure that if one... Read More