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Posts tagged “Health”

With the nights drawing in – and temperatures dropping – it’s not surprising that our thoughts at this time of year turn to warming and comforting treats. Spices have long been treasured for their ability to pep up our staple fare not to mention their preserving and medicinal qualities. 
 
Many of the winter treats we still enjoy today – fruit cakes, Christmas puddings, mince pies and mulled wine – date back to medieval times, when spices were a luxury. A long anticipated treat. 
 
These days with travel having become so much easier – and the world much smaller – spices have become an integral part of our everyday lives. However, they offer much more than simply being an ingredient of our favourite Indian or Chinese foods. They also have an important medicinal aspect which has long been recognised by many traditional forms of medicine, including Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. 
Over recent years soy has been marketed as the healthy alternative to many meat and dairy products, appearing in an ever increasing range of products found on supermarket shelves. Much has been made of the important part it plays in the diets of those in the Far East, particularly Japan and China. 
 
The logic goes that as Asian people traditionally have lower rates of heart disease, cancer and dementia AND soy is an important part of their diet; then it should be included in our diets for its health enhancing properties. (And, coincidentally, this is the reason clients always refer to when we ask them why they’ve made this change.) 
A couple of weeks ago we looked at the difference between minerals and vitamins. How important they BOTH are to good health and the complex web of relationships between them. 
 
As promised this week we’re focussing on one mineral in particular, magnesium, which has been the subject of much research in recent years. Interestingly, this has highlighted the large number of people who are deficient in this mineral AND the part this then plays in many health problems. It has also emphasised, once again, the part played by poor ongoing lifestyle choices. And they’re the ones we mention regularly – lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, dehydration, stress, lack of exercise and smoking. 
Over the years we’ve noticed that the autumn seems to be the time when everyone starts thinking about taking a supplement to boost their health – and, hopefully, avoid the worst of the winter bugs. Usually this takes the form of a multi vitamin or, more commonly in recent years, a higher dose of a specific vitamin, particularly Vitamin C. 
 
For some reason people tend to overlook minerals – unless their multi vitamin happens to contain them too (!) – and how they’re just as important in maintaining good health. This may be due to research – and press coverage – in recent years focusing more on vitamins than minerals. Or, perhaps, no single mineral has caught the public’s attention in the way Vitamin C has. 
 
Whatever the reason(s) this week we’re going to focus on minerals and why they’re just as important as vitamins for good health. 
Having focussed on winter bugs for the last few weeks, you’ll be pleased to hear that we’re moving on to something completely different. And without a single mention of mucus, catarrh or snot (!) either. Sorry we just couldn’t resist it… 
 
If you’ve been unlucky enough to suffer from it, you’ll know first hand just how painful and debilitating this problem is. One client summed it up perfectly by saying that she couldn’t sit, couldn’t stand, could just about lay down – but couldn’t then get up – and really didn’t know what to do with herself. 
 
And, from personal experience, we’d say she’d got it right. Although, having said that, we’d add that it’s virtually impossible to get out of the car after a drive of more than a few minutes without resorting to a crowbar… 
 
So what are we talking about this week? 
 
Sciatica, the inflammation of the Sciatic Nerve. 
Having focussed on Colds recently – not only what to do if the worst happens, but how to avoid them in the first place (!) – we weren’t expecting to continue on a similar theme this week. However, with a number of clients having come in with Sinusitis over the last couple of weeks, it seemed like one more blog post was needed on this topic before we move on to other things. 
 
As an aside, we should say that it’s very unusual to see clients with Sinusitis following a Cold so early in the season. In our experience we don’t expect to see it until the weather becomes much colder and damper. Although, having said that, the very changeable weather this summer may well be the reason for this. 
A couple of weeks ago we looked at all the simple 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 do at home to help speed bugs on their way. 
 
Let’s start with the most obvious one that most people seem to overlook. 
With the end of the summer holidays approaching – for 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. Forewarned is forearmed after all. 
 
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 the simple things right everything else starts to fall into place.  
 
Then, in a couple of weeks’ time, we’ll look at what you can do if the worst happens. 
It’s been a while since we’ve tackled one of those questions without a simple answer that children love to ask. And, as it’s the summer holidays, there’s still time for plenty more! So we thought it was time for a little research on something we all do every day without ever thinking about. 
 
The easy – and obvious – answer is that we yawn when we’re tired. Or bored. Or both. 
 
The traditional explanation for yawning is that we breathe less deeply when we’re tired or bored. This means that the body takes in less oxygen, leading to an increase of carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Which, in turn, causes us to yawn and so breathe more deeply, taking in more oxygen and releasing more carbon dioxide. As a result we feel more alert. Less tired and bored. 
At this time of year many a day is marred by the unwanted attentions of those “flying beasties”. Perhaps it’s the dreaded gnats, midges or mosquitos on the lookout for an easy meal. Or a wasp or bee on the defensive. Either way, a bite or sting can ruin anyone’s day. 
 
So, this week, we’re going to have a look at these beasties, as well as giving you a few tricks to help prevent being bitten in the first place. And, if the worst happens, speeding things on their way. 
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