Posts tagged “Health”

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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.

Eggs are not the enemy...

Posted on 5th June 2019 at 08:48

While chicken has been considered a healthy source of protein for years, eggs have received a much less favourable press. 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. 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!

Is the art of discernment rapidly becoming a lost skill?

Posted on 15th May 2019 at 08:15

Perhaps it’s a side effect of the ever faster speed of life – or our increasingly reliance on all things technological – but it seems that many basic skills are in danger of being lost forever. Or, as one friend so kindly pointed out, it may just be part of becoming older!

Anyway, before we digress too far, we’re not only talking about practical skills such as wiring plugs, changing a car wheel or actually cooking a meal from scratch at home. But rather the ability to think for ourselves. To reach our own conclusions about any given topic.

Getting to the root of the problem...

Posted on 8th May 2019 at 08:20

Sadly, all too many people view their six monthly check ups at the Dentist with a certain amount of apprehension. Will anything be found and, if so, how much drilling is it going to involve? And that’s assuming they’re not one of the sizeable minority of people who don’t go to the Dentist for years – or even decades…

Given this, it’s not surprising that most people’s attention is firmly fixed on the likely pain associated with any dental work, such as fillings, rather than the procedure itself. As a result, it’s taken time for the potential dangers of amalgam – mercury – fillings to become better known and for people to consider the alternative of white composite fillings. While these may not be perfect – and don’t tend to last so long – they are now considered a safer alternative by many dentists. We wrote a blog post about mercury back in July 2015, which can be found here.

Yet another reason to drink more water...

Posted on 24th April 2019 at 08:30

We all have our own particular pet subjects and, as many people have pointed out over the years, drinking water is one of ours. To us, it’s such a no brainer – our bodies are over 75% water after all – and yet so many people still seem to struggle with it. Why is this?

Well, the simple answer is that something which should be so simple and instinctive has become incredibly complicated. Not only in terms of how much water we should drink each day but exactly what constitutes water. And, as an aside, it’s amazing how creative people can be when trying to explain the rationale behind what they’re drinking each day. We’re not just talking about alcohol either….

What on earth is the Appendix for?

Posted on 10th April 2019 at 08:30

Having been asked this question several times recently – and heard some great old wives’ tales in the process (!) – we thought it was time to as dispel some very popular misconceptions about the Appendix, some of which we’re sure you’ve heard before…

Despite its small size, the Appendix only tends to be mentioned in hushed tones accompanied with words of dread. Why is this? Well, probably, because the only time we spare it a thought is when there’s a problem.

For good reason, Appendicitis is one of the most feared medical emergencies, due to its rapid onset and levels of pain involved. Added to this, there’s always the worry that it will burst, although this is something of an old wives’ tale.

So let’s find out all about the Appendix and dispel a few myths in the process.

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.

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