Posts tagged “Diet”

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Nettles, a spring green we bet you've never thought of before

Posted on 27th March 2019 at 08:15

There’s nothing like the first fresh spring greens of the year. Sprouting broccoli, spring cabbage, kale. After the traditional, heavier foods of the winter, it’s a real treat to have some fresh spring greens.

But what about something much more local and you can easily pick yourself? One that you’ll never see in your local supermarket or probably have ever considered before. Nettles. Yes, nettles.

Sadly, nettles have something of a PR problem. And that’s putting it mildly… Not only were many of us were stung – hopefully not too badly – during childhood, but their invasive nature gives them a bad reputation for gardeners. This is a real shame as it means that we miss out on their many benefits too.

Diets, diets and more diets

Posted on 13th February 2019 at 08:15

A couple of weeks ago we looked at “Low fat high carb” diets. How much confusion there still seems to be about them AND how this has unwittingly contributed to rising levels of Diabetes and Obesity. However, with the huge number of different diets out there being marketed as “the one” – particularly at this time of year (!) – it’s not surprising that many people are still completely confused about the different options; let alone which is the best one for them.

So, this week, we’re going to have a look at the two most popular types of diets in the last couple of years. Low Carb and Intermittent Fasting. But, don’t be fooled. They both appear in many different guises, each with their own particular programme and celebrity endorsement (!).

Diabetes and the dangers of the "Low Fat High Carb" diet

Posted on 30th January 2019 at 08:25

Last April – goodness it doesn’t seem that long ago (!) – we wrote about the worrying increase in those being diagnosed with Diabetes Type II Diabetes, also known as “Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes”. Even worse, it’s now being diagnosed in much younger people – those still in their teens and early 20’s – rather than people of middle age, who also tended to be overweight and sedentary. If you missed this post you can find it here .

Sadly, yet again, it’s become clear that this trend is being fuelled by poor lifestyle choices. In other words, poor diet and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Not surprisingly, both of these are also linked to Obesity, a well known risk factor for Diabetes, as well as many other conditions.

This has led to the modern dietary advice of eating a “Low Fat, High Carb” diet being put under the spotlight. Suddenly it doesn’t seem to be such a healthy option, leaving many confused and unsure about exactly what they should be eating. And, just as importantly, what they should be avoiding.

So, this week, we’re going to have a look at what most people understand as a “Low Fat, High Carb” diet and why it isn’t quite what they think it is.

Help, the Doctor says I've got blood pressure

Posted on 2nd January 2019 at 11:30

Over the years, we’ve heard this numerous times from clients and our reply is always the same. Thank goodness you have or you wouldn’t be talking to us! And, yes, we know this is probably not the answer they were expecting, but it always prompts a smile and helps puts things into perspective…

Blood pressure – and by that we mean high blood pressure (!) – is becoming an increasing problem worldwide, not just in the West. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure, Hypertension if you want to be more technical. So, this week, let’s find out about high blood pressure and why it’s such a concern.

What's the difference between Bronchitis and Pneumonia?

Posted on 5th December 2018 at 08:15

Over the last few winters, there’s been a marked increase in the number of chest infections, particularly Bronchitis and Pneumonia. While many different causes have been suggested for this – colder, damp winters and changes in the bugs doing the rounds being the most common – as yet there’s no definitive answer.

Like many conditions with similar symptoms – such as Sprains and Strains, Dementia and Alzheimer’s – they’re easy to confuse. However, if you know what to look for, they are quite different. So, this week, let’s take a closer look at them.

Fibromyalgia, is it all in the mind?

Posted on 7th November 2018 at 08:00

It’s a myth of modern medicine that there’s a definitive test / investigation / scan to allow every disease / condition / syndrome to be conclusively diagnosed. And, once this has occurred, a treatment protocol is ready and waiting to address the issue.

Sadly, this isn’t the case, with many patients failing to get a definitive diagnosis for their particular set of symptoms. Spending years in limbo trying to make sense of what’s happening to them.

Why does your stomach rumble and does it always mean you're hungry?

Posted on 10th October 2018 at 08:00

Having answered the question of why joints “pop” a few of weeks ago, we weren’t expecting to be answering another one of those questions so soon. It must be something to do with schools going back; as we’ve been asked lots of similar questions recently, only some of which will feature in future blog posts…

The medicine chest lurking in your kitchen

Posted on 26th September 2018 at 08:30

We love passing on tips of things you can do at home to help yourself, particularly using things you already have close at hand. With the temperatures already starting to drop – and farmers busy in the fields – this week we’d like to highlight the medicine chest lurking in your kitchen ready for the season ahead.

Are Dementia and Alzheimer's the same thing?

Posted on 12th September 2018 at 07:45

Despite all the press coverage – and scare stories – over the last few years about Dementia and Alzheimer’s there still seems to be a huge amount of confusion about them. And we should quickly say that no pun was intended.

In talking to clients, we’ve noticed that most people seem to use these two words interchangeably. And, even when there’s been a diagnosis of one or the other, they don’t seem to be much the wiser. To know what it actually means. Or what can be done to help.

Is fruit juice as healthy as you think it is?

Posted on 15th August 2018 at 07:45

Over the years we’ve noticed a large number of food related mantras – for want of a better word – that people automatically accept as true without ever giving them a second thought. And, more worryingly, long after research has shown them to be untrue. Or, at best, misleading.

Some of these we’ve tackled before in this blog. Such as milk being an essential part of a healthy diet, providing the high levels of calcium needed to build strong teeth and bones. Or, one of our perennial favourites, coffee and tea counting towards your daily water intake (!).

Sadly, both are untrue. And, if we had a pound for every time someone said them to us, we’d be very rich indeed…

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