Nutrition & Health Insights
Filter
Filter:
- General
The Environmental Working Group’s 2019 “Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen” list of fruits and vegetables with the most/least pesticide residue was released earlier this month. The best way to avoid harmful pesticides that can act as endocrine disruptors (chemicals which can interfere with the body’s hormone systems) and potentially increase [...]
- Symptoms
Humans have over 1000 species of bacteria naturally living on the skin. The species vary on different areas of the body. Most of these bacteria are commensals (non-harmful to us) and contribute to maintaining good health of the skin. They do this by taking up space, preventing pathogenic (disease causing) [...]
- Functional Medicine
I was trained to work as a Nutritionist and Nutritional Therapist using a Functional Medicine approach – so this model forms the basis of how I work. When I ask people if they have heard of this, or know what it is, most people haven’t – so here is a [...]
- Recipe
Having a healthy, balanced, microbiome is the key to good health. It has an impact on many aspects of health, not just in the gut but body-wide. When I plan meals, I always consider how what I eat will benefit my microbiome (yes, I know that is quite geeky!). So, [...]
- Foods
There is no doubt that a high sugar diet is detrimental to health. Sugar occurs naturally in many foods and is added to most processed foods, under several different guises, making it difficult to avoid and to determine how much we are consuming. Excess sugar consumption has been associated with [...]
- ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people of all ages and genders. In past years, ADHD was most commonly associated with boys and men; in recent years, it has become more widely recognised and diagnosed in girls and women. ADHD in women may present differently than in [...]
- ADHD, Brain
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. It used to be thought of as just affecting children. However in recent years increasing numbers of adults are being diagnosed. People with ADHD typically experience symptoms such as difficulty paying attention, impulsivity, [...]
- Brain
As we age, our brains go through natural decline in cognitive function; in fact cognitive decline and general mental slowdown can begin in your 40s. However, there are things we can do to support brain health, one of the most effective of which is to promote brain health through nutrition. [...]
- Symptoms
“The growing evidence for nutritional psychiatry suggests that GPs and mental health professionals should now seriously consider including dietary counselling for patients who are at risk of depression.” Read the full article here; THECONVERSATION
[...]
- Gut
“Gut Microbiota Composition Reflects Disease Severity and Dysfunctional Immune Responses in Patients With COVID-19” Yeoh, Zuo, Lui et. al. BMJ January 2021 I read a lot about the microbiome, an awful lot, enough to have learnt that one of the keys to good health is balanced gut microbiota – and [...]
- IBS, SIBO
Approximately 3million people in the UK are affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is now thought that 60-70% of IBS cases are in fact due to SIBO. So what actually is SIBO? SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth. As the name suggests this means there are too many [...]
- Recipe
Were you, like me, brought up being told to “eat your greens”? I thought I’d share a couple of my favourite nutritious and tasty green recipes. The falafel recipe is one I have scribbled on a bit of paper in my recipe folder so can’t give credit to whoever I [...]
- Gut, Symptoms
The skin is not just a kind of exterior wrapping for the body, it is a complex living organ which can often reflect what is happening inside the body. As well as being a large defense barrier to anything the body is exposed to, it is also one of the [...]
- Foods
Just recently, I’ve been using a wider variety of spices in my cooking, as I am aware many of them have therapeutic value as well as being delicious additions. Each time I incorporate a new ingredient I learn more about it and check out any research. So the spice of [...]
- Brain, Gut
It has long been assumed that the gut and the brain communicate via a slow, hormonal pathway. Now a paper that has just been published in the renowned journal ‘Science’ shows that there is a faster means of communication between gut and brain. By researching a mouse model, they were [...]
- Gut
Having just received the results of a gut microbiome test I submitted, this has made me particularly conscious of how readily microbiome composition can change depending on the foods it is exposed to. Mine is actually not too bad but there is room for improvement! However, the microbiome is not [...]
- Foods, Immune System, Inflammation
Have you ever found that there are some nights when sleep doesn’t come easily? Sleep is one of the pillars of good health. Poor sleep is associated with weight gain, poor concentration, increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, depression, impaired immune function and chronic inflammation. Whilst reading [...]
- Immune System
Selenium and the Immune system Selenium is a trace mineral (you only need a bit of it) which plays an essential role in supporting normal immune function. Studies have demonstrated an enhancement of immune responses by increasing levels of selenium intake. Selenium has been shown to stimulate antibody formation and [...]
- Gut
Chewing your food well is advice I often give to clients. This may sound really obvious and somewhat parental yet chewing is an important, but sometimes under-appreciated, stage of digestion. It is not uncommon for people these days to be eating in a rush, at their desk, walking around, in [...]
- Vitamins
Most of us will have come across Vitamin D due to its association with bone health. Without vitamin D our bodies cannot effectively absorb calcium, which is essential for good bone health. More recently, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, its vital role in immune system function has been highlighted [...]
- Gut, IBS
IBS is a widespread functional digestive disorder (functional means there are symptoms but no signs of actual disease). It affects approximately 10-15% of the world population! Symptoms are usually frequent, and people often suffer over long periods of time. IBS is divided into subtypes – IBS with constipation, IBS with [...]
- Gut, Symptoms
Having a healthy, well-functioning gut (gut refers to the whole digestive tract) is one of the keys to overall health. I think we all get the occasional symptom such as a bit of bloating, heartburn, a headache etc from time to time. However some people get these kinds of symptoms [...]
- Recipe, Vitamins
Parsnips are a great source of vitamin C, K and folate and other immune supporting nutrients such as zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6. Parsnips are also a rich source of antioxidants and dietary fibre – your gut bacteria will love this soup. Add in the anti-inflammatories ginger and turmeric and [...]
- Foods, Recipe
Wild garlic has been one of my recent discoveries. Now one of my highlights of spring is the appearance of this amazing plant in our local woodland. Not only does it look stunning during its short flowering period, it is also a delicious food and has properties which make it [...]