Posts tagged “Health”

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A trap waiting to catch the unwary...

Posted on 17th October 2019 at 11:15

With a distinctly autumnal feeling in the air – and we’re not even going to mention the torrential rain of the past couple of weeks (!) - it’s not surprising that many people start taking supplements at this time of year. A bit like taking out an insurance policy for the winter ahead.

It’s made even easier these days, with a huge range available in supermarkets and high street chemists, let alone your local health food store or online. Just pop a bottle – or two (!) – in your basket and you’re covered for the winter …

Unfortunately, there’s a trap waiting to catch the unwary, particularly those on a budget or who focus on quantity rather than quality. It’s a topic we covered a while ago, particularly whether supplements really are a necessary part of modern life, which can be found here.

Winter bugs, what to do if the worst happens...

Posted on 25th September 2019 at 08:30

A couple of weeks ago we looked at all the easy things you could do to help make this a bug free winter. Getting the basics right.

But what if, despite all your best efforts, the worst happens? Well, all is not lost. There are lots of things you can easily do at home to help speed bugs on their way.

Let’s start with the most obvious one that most people seem to overlook.

Once again, the seasons turn...

Posted on 11th September 2019 at 08:46

With a real nip in the air for the last few mornings and everyone back at school or work – grown ups as well as children (!) – this week we’re looking ahead to the autumn. Not only to glorious September days – where it’s too nice to be indoors (!) – but also to the less welcome start of the Colds and Flu season.

And, yes, we can hear a collective groan at the mere mention of another winter. Let alone the start of another school – or work (!) – year. But, please, bear with us there’s a very good reason for us mentioning it now.

There are so many simple things you can do now that will pay dividends later. Not only in avoiding the lurgies doing the rounds but also to improve your overall health. As so often is the case, if you get these right then everything else falls into place.

The joys of this time of year

Posted on 21st August 2019 at 08:49

While it seems a little earlier than usual, there’s been a distinctly autumnal feeling in the air for the last few days. The year is definitely turning and, to us, it’s a reminder of one of the pleasures of this time of year. Foraging for all the edible goodies that can be found in the hedgerows right now. Not only are they organic, but come with zero food miles and exercise built in (!).

The one that marks the start of the autumn foraging season – as well as being a favourite of so many people – are Blackberries. And who doesn’t love a blackberry and apple crumble or perhaps pie; not forgetting the ever popular favourite blackberry and apple jam?

Summer time and the living is easy...

Posted on 14th August 2019 at 08:30

With it being the middle of the holiday season – hurrah (!) – we’re going to keep this week’s post short and sweet.

Whether you’re currently on holiday, about to go or just back why not STOP for a moment.

Take a deep breath – or two (!) – and notice how you’re feeling right now.

Then take another deep breath – or two (!) – and let any cares or worries you have drift away.

Notice how you’re sitting or standing. Whether you’re tense or relaxed.

Carrying the world on your shoulders or, perhaps, have them up round your ears (!). Then just let your body relax.

Ticking ever louder, the Ticking Health Time Bomb – Glyphosate, better known as Roundup

Posted on 7th August 2019 at 09:09

Goodness, how time flies by. Back in March 2015, as part of our occasional “Ticking Health Time Bomb” series, we took a closer look at Glyphosate. Why it may not be as safe as people would like to think. Let alone by the farmers or gardeners coming into direct contact with it. A copy of the post can be found here.

Ironically, only a few days after our post, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer – known as IARC – finally bowed to a huge amount of independent research, re classifying Glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” This was based on limited evidence of Cancer in humans (from real world exposures that had actually occurred) and sufficient evidence of Cancer in experimental animals (from studies using pure Glyphosate). Despite the monumental nature of this re classification, it received very little coverage on mainstream media and so the message did not reach those it needed to.

However, it did finally open the floodgates to litigation by those alleging that exposure to Glyphosate – Roundup – had contributed to their Cancer and the first three of these cases have now reached the American Courts.

Dare we mention dehydration...

Posted on 24th July 2019 at 08:32

With the promised – or threatened (!) – heatwave upon us, it seemed like a good time to revisit one of our pet subjects. Water. And, yes, we know it’s not seen as a very exciting topic BUT – and it’s a bit but – we can’t exist without it. Despite what advertisers would like to tell us, it’s what our bodies were designed to run on. It really is that simple.

Just as important, is being able to recognise the signs that you’re not drinking enough of the right things. In other words, you’re becoming dehydrated. Although, by an ironic twist of fate, by the time you realise you’re thirsty you’re already mildly dehydrated...

Over the years, we’ve noticed how creative people can be when asked what they drink each day. And, in case you were wondering, it’s not a trick question. It’s just that dehydration plays a part in a huge number of health problems. Often, simply increasing a person’s water intake can have seemingly magical effects.

One of the delights of this time of year, tasty tomatoes

Posted on 10th July 2019 at 09:00

We often talk about the benefits – and delights (!) – of eating fresh fruits and vegetables when they’re at their very best. In other words, in season – eaten at the time of year nature intended – AND locally produced, so they reach our plates fresh from the field – or garden (!).

It’s no accident that the starchy, more satisfying, root vegetables are at their best in the cooler months of the year. Nor that salads and berries come into their own right now. Each provides exactly the right nutrients needed by our bodies at the time of year they’re naturally ready to eat.

For example, root vegetables are rich in carbohydrates to help maintain energy levels – and keep us warm – during the winter months. They also provide good levels of Vitamins A, C and E, to support the Immune Systems and so avoid the winter bugs.

By contrast, salads and berries have a much higher water content, helping replace the water lost as sweat during the warmer summer months. Added to this they also contain high levels of magnesium and potassium to help replace that lost in sweat – and so prevent the dreaded night cramps…

So, this week, let’s celebrate a vegetable – that’s strictly a fruit – which is coming into its best right now. Even better, it produces a prolific crop right through till the Autumn. If you don’t grow them yourself, you’re guaranteed to have local gardening friends giving them away. Or, at worst, people selling them at their garden gates for a fraction of that charged by your local supermarket.

Enjoying the sunshine...

Posted on 26th June 2019 at 07:45

Hardly has the summer finally started (!) than the usual dire warnings about the dangers of spending too much time in the sun have begun. And, each year, they seem to become louder and more insistent. It’s one of those annual traditions – if that’s the right word – we could well do without. And, dare we say it, be better replaced with a little common sense…

As with so many things in life, it isn’t the sun that’s inherently dangerous BUT our approach to it which can be fraught with danger. This is particularly the case for those who spend the majority of their year indoors, except for their annual fortnight in the sun, when they bake themselves to a crisp in search of that elusive golden tan. It’s a topic we’ve covered before and, to avoid us repeating ourselves, can be found here.

Just one drop, The science behind the Homeopathy controversy

Posted on 11th June 2019 at 11:00

Yes we know it’s a day early (!) but, this week, we’re going to do two things we’ve never done before.

And, no, we’re not still in holiday mode!

The first is sending out this e mail about the weekly blog post a day early.

The second is that, rather than writing the blog post ourselves, we’re going to link to one written by Dr Joseph Mercola.

If you haven’t come across the Mercola website before, it’s a great source of information for health – and lifestyle – related matters.

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