Posts tagged “Health”

Back to all posts

Good news, chocolate really is good for you

Posted on 12th April 2017 at 07:30

With the chocolate fuelled madness that marks the first bank holiday weekend of the year rapidly approaching (!), we thought this blog post would get your attention. However, as so often is the case, it isn’t quite that simple.

True, cocoa beans do have a myriad of health benefits, as confirmed by many different studies. More on this later. Hurrah!

Unfortunately the majority of these are lost during the manufacturing process to produce the chocolate bars we’re so familiar with. Sorry!

Spring is in the air, isn't it time for a little spring cleaning?

Posted on 5th April 2017 at 07:30

This time last year we talked about the traditional spring detox, helping to clear away any ill effects of the winter, in preparation for the summer ahead. Perhaps from indulging in a little too much comfort food (!). Or having been cocooned on the sofa under a duvet for days on end…

We extolled the virtues of rediscovering fresh fruit and veg. Even better, eating whatever fruit or veg is in season, so at its best right now. And, by the way, english asparagus is just coming into season and tastes great!

Spending time outside in the fresh air every day. Perhaps even taking some gentle exercise such as a walk, bike ride or swim.

Maybe even doing a gentle liver detox using Milk Thistle tincture. Or, for the more adventurous, an old fashioned naturopathic liver and gallbladder flush.

Vitamin C, Free Radicals and Antioxidants

Posted on 22nd March 2017 at 07:30

A couple of weeks ago we looked at Vitamin C and promised to write about free radicals. The part they play in many chronic degenerative diseases and how the antioxidants found in Vitamin C (as well as in many other nutrients) can help to stop – and even reverse – this process.

While you may not know exactly what free radicals are, you’ve probably heard about them before. Often in connection with the latest “miracle” skin cream which promises to restore youthful looks in a flash. However they are much more than this.

Oranges, lemons, limes and Vitamin C

Posted on 8th March 2017 at 07:30

It’s interesting the associations we all seem to have. The winter with Coughs and Colds (!), Vitamin C and a glass of orange juice. But would you associate Vitamin C with a reduced risk of heart disease, ageing or cancer? Probably not.

Of all the vitamins, Vitamin C is the one most people have heard of. And yet seem to know so little about. So, this week, let’s dig a little deeper and find out why it’s important for good health. Not just Coughs and Colds.

Constipation

Posted on 22nd February 2017 at 07:45

Just to prove that we listen to what people say (!) this week’s blog post is in response to a comment recently received from someone we know very well. (And, to avoid any embarrassment we won’t say who it is.)

It went along the lines of “Why haven’t you done a blog about constipation, I’m fed up with being told to drink more water and eat more fruit and veg.”

We can’t promise that we won’t mention water, fruit and veg but can guarantee that you’ll learn lots of other things as well. So, here we go (!).

The power of placebo - or, put another way, the power of your mind

Posted on 8th February 2017 at 07:45

Placebo is a topic we’ve wanted to write about for a while but not easy to pin down. It’s one of those words that seems to be so misunderstood; meaning different things to different people.

All too often it’s used as a “catch all” response to anything that goes against perceived wisdom – whatever that is (!) – particularly within the medical profession. The logic goes that whatever it is only works because it was expected to work by all those involved, both patient and practitioner.

Hence it being used to explain – and at the same time dismiss – any approach outside the “accepted norm” that produces positive results. However, as so often is the case, life just isn’t that simple.

Pain is there for a reason

Posted on 25th January 2017 at 07:30

While the title of this week’s post may be stating the blindingly obvious (!), in this high tech world of ours it’s all too easy to reach for the painkillers at the first sign of any pain or discomfort.

Sadly, this trend is borne out by figures recently released in America. These showed that prescriptions of opium based painkillers have increased by over 300% in the last 10 years. And, where America goes, all too often England follows.

Alongside this addiction to painkillers – whether on prescription, over the counter or on the black market – is increasing at an alarming rate, particularly among teenagers and young adults. With painkillers now considered a “gateway drug” to heroin, it’s not surprising that alarm bells are ringing loudly.

At the same time, by a strange twist of fate, it’s also been suggested that using opium based painkillers to manage pain over the longer term may actually increase pain, rather than helping to reduce or manage it.

Salt, friend or foe?

Posted on 11th January 2017 at 07:45

Over the last few years white refined sugar has become Public Enemy Number One, with repeated advice to remove it completely from our diets. While salt may not have quite reached that status, many column inches – and news stories – have been devoted to its impact on long term health, coupled with advice to adopt a low salt diet.

At first glance this advice appears to be perfectly sensible but is it really that simple? That salt is inherently bad for us and should be removed from our diets as far as possible.

While this advice makes a great soundbite – and one that’s easy to remember, if not to follow – sadly it isn’t quite that simple.

Good enough is good enough

Posted on 21st December 2016 at 07:45

With the madness of the festive season upon us – and having seen some very frazzled clients recently (!) – it seemed like a good time for a dose of commonsense. That’s if we dare use this rather word at all…

For some reason we’ve never been able to fathom, the festive season seems to bring out the manic in most people. Not to mention the rose tinted spectacles.

Perhaps it’s down to the combination of late nights and festive get togethers fuelled with industrial quantities of alcohol and food.

Or those unwritten rules and traditions that seem to plague most families. “We always see Great Aunt Esmeralda on Christmas Eve / have bucks fizz on Christmas morning / go to the pantomime on Boxing Day / fill in the blank.”

What are you addicted to?

Posted on 7th December 2016 at 07:45

As we’ve mentioned before our blog posts usually spark some interesting responses from clients – and often these aren’t what we expected. A recent example of this are the couple of posts we did on sugar, highlighting how easily it becomes part of our diet without us ever realising it AND why it’s so addictive.

Much to our surprise, it was the second point – focussing on its addictive qualities – that has caused most comment. Not to mention some ruffled feathers with comments along the lines of:

“How could we possibly say that sugar was addictive? That’s not a “proper” addiction. What’s wrong with a sugary treat? It’s nothing like alcohol or drugs. Those are real addictions.”

News & Blog