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. 

 

And it’s one of these we’re going to put under the spotlight today, particularly with the rather hot weather we’ve been having recently and it being seen as a good alternative to – boring (!) - water. 

 

It’s that fruit juice is good for you, an essential part of a healthy diet. Not only does it provide high levels of Vitamin C, but many other minerals and vitamins as well. It’s the easy way to get all of the benefits of fruit without the hassle of eating it. 

With the temperatures having rocketed up in the last few days, we’ve had the usual spate of calls from Clients suffering from Leg cramps. While they’re usually associated with the summer months, they can occur at any time of year and for several different reasons. 

 

However, the good news is that they’re easy to deal with. Even better they’re simple to prevent, with no prizes for guessing the number one cause. And, if you need a clue, it’s one of our pet subjects (!). More about this later. 

Whether it be food, communications, getting from A to B or health improvements; the expectation is the same. We want a quick fix NOW!!! Just look at the adverts online, in the newspapers or on the television and you’ll find this is the box they’re all trying to tick. 

 

However, if you take a step back from all of this for a moment, does quick really mean a fix? 

While chicken has traditionally been considered a healthy source of protein, eggs have received a much less favourable press in recent years. This is largely due to a simple misconception which we regularly hear from Clients. That eggs are high in Cholesterol and saturated fats, so promoting Heart Disease. If not avoided, they should only be eaten occasionally. 

 

Not surprisingly, this has led to a variety of different advice about limiting their consumption. These range from avoiding eggs altogether or, at the very most, eating no more than three eggs a week. And then there’s the advice to only eat eggs whites, although nothing is said about what to do with the yolks (!). As an aside, while doing a little research for this post, we were intrigued to come across the recommendation to only consume a quarter of an egg a week. Exactly how this would work in practice, we have no idea… 

It may seem rather strange to be writing about the “Winter Blues” in March, just when the days are really starting to draw out - and, ironically, with a lovely sunny start to the day here in Suffolk... 

 

Traditionally, January is the month when Doctors expect to see more cases of the Winter Blues. What with all the chickens coming home to roost after Christmas (!), as well as credit card bills and short winter days, it’s really not that surprising. 

 

However, in our experience, February is usually the month when we tend to have more calls from Clients about them. While the timing and number of calls varies a little every year, this year has been rather different, thanks – if that’s the right word (!) – to the seemingly never ending cold, damp and grey Winter weather. Not only have many more Clients have been calling us for help, but are still continuing to do so… 

 

Also known as “Seasonal Affective Disorder”, the Winter Blues are estimated to affect around 20% of adults here in the UK every Winter. While it may sound like something of a joke to those not affected – particularly as it tends to be referred to by its initials, “SAD” – its impact is very real and can be debilitating for those concerned, as well as those around them. 

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 usually 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 now have High Blood Pressure or, if you want to be more technical, Hypertension. 

 

So, this week, we’re going to talk about High Blood Pressure and why it’s such a concern. 

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve taken a look at diets. Why the traditional misery laden approach doesn’t work and suggested a much simpler, seemingly radical, approach. To start looking at what we eat from the body’s point of view. What it actually needs to function at its optimal levels rather than what we – or, increasingly, the advertisers and other influencers (!) – try to convince us is the case. You can find the posts here and here. 

 

So, just what is the human body designed to thrive best on? 

Last week we looked at diets and suggested a different approach to losing those extra pounds which seem to magically appear at this time of year – or in the run up to our fortnight in the sun. For a quick reminder click here. 

 

It all starts with setting our internal sat nav and saying where we are right now. Treating it as being “interesting” – goodness, is that where I am?!? – rather than letting the Little Monster in our Heads use it as another reason to make us feel bad. 

 

Then, deciding where we want to end up. So, feeling healthy / having plenty of energy / looking good / easily moving through our day / something else. 

 

Which just leaves one simple question. How to get there most easily. 

With thanks to Cathy Hopkins, the actress, for the inspiration for the title of this week’s blog post. 

 

Having deviated a little from our planned blog post last week – it really is like “Snot Central” out there at the moment (!) – we’re now back on track this week with another seasonal topic. As we mentioned at the time, we’re willing to bet it’s been mentioned by at least one member of your household / family this month, if not yourself (!). 

 

So, if you hadn’t already guessed – the title of this post really is a bit of a giveaway (!) – we’re talking about diets. Or more accurately, shifting those excess pounds which seem to magically appear at this time of the year – “where did they come from?!?” – or, equally predictably, in the run up to our annual fortnight in the sun… 

Having talked about the dreaded (!) New Year’s resolutions for the last couple of weeks, as well as suggesting an alternative – and much simpler – “one size fits all” solution, we had another seasonal topic lined up for this week. We’ll leave you in suspense for now, but would be willing to bet it’s been mentioned by at least one member of your household / family this month, if not yourself (!). In the meantime, if you need a quick reminder about those dreaded New Year’s resolutions, you can find the posts here, here and here. 

 

However, our plans have been rather overtaken by the post festive period upswing in Colds – and all the usual “Winter lurgies” – aided by the return to school and ongoing cold, damp weather. Although we mentioned it in our pre Winter blog posts last Autumn, having had the same conversation with those around us since the Practice reopened – whether friends and family or Clients – we’ve taken the hint and made it the subject of this week’s blog post. 

 

So, if you’re ready for our usual dose of commonsense and different perspective on Winter lurgies, then here we go.