Some individuals or families find that sometimes they have to stay home for a prolonged period of time. At times like this, if other people are in the same situation it is easy to panic shop and hoard products in the house, just in case the supermarkets are not able […]
Our eyes are our windows to the world. Unless you are suffering from an eye disorder then you probably don’t think about them much, but they are amazing when you think about what we can see. Our eyes allow us to see objects in colour, close to us, or far […]
It’s that time of year, when we feel a little run down, maybe have fought or fighting off a cold, or worse still suffering from the flu. The weather is cold and Spring is still some time off. Maybe we have put on a little weight after the Festive period […]
Happy New Year! Have you made any new year’s resolutions? It is that time of year when many people take stock of their lives and maybe take on new challenges for the upcoming 12 months. After a period of over indulgence in many aspects of our lives, we tend to […]
It’s not difficult to over eat and drink at Christmas and the new year period. We are faced with temptation everywhere from tubs of discounted chocolates in the supermarket, mince pies, Christmas cakes and puddings, to an array of alcohol which tends to lend itself to Christmas such as spiced […]
As I was writing my previous blog on herbs and spices I quickly realised that there is so much to say about them that I needed to create a Part 1 and now a Part 2. There are of course many different herbs and spices and they are all great […]
As Brits we are getting better at trying new foods and developing our palates’ to taste various herbs and spices. Most of us enjoy a curry or maybe some Chinese or Thai food, but it could be argued that in general we don’t choose to eat food that is overtly […]
What do you know about cholesterol? I’m guessing that you have heard about it in the press, from a family member or colleague, from your GP. There has been a lot of discussion about cholesterol and how it is important to keep your cholesterol levels low and how best to […]
I’m writing from experience. Not from following the low FODMAP diet for myself, but doing it for my 16-year-old daughter. This means I am living and breathing it and cooking or preparing FODMAP friendly meals. This has been a challenge. As a nutritionist it goes against everything I believe in […]
Anyone interested in their diet, health and wellbeing may have heard a lot about the Mediterranean diet. Anyone who has experienced some health issues for example high blood pressure, stroke or stroke risk and diabetes, and have received dietary advice may also have heard about the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean […]
When you think of iodine, do you think about the yellow substance that is used as a disinfectant on skin when an operation is performed? For those of you who may have experienced a surgical procedure you’ll know what I mean and how difficult it can be to wash the […]
As the mum of a teenage girl I can see first-hand the lifestyle she leads. I don’t think she is unusual, just a typical teenager. I have experienced the stresses of revising and taking exams and the amount of time that goes into supporting a teenage girl’s busy life. But […]
oor diet and lifestyle choices effect men and women in very similar ways. For example, if we smoke our risk of developing lung disease or different types of cancers is related to amount and duration of cigarettes smoked, not on our gender. If we are overweight or obese, our risk […]
The menopause is a natural biological event that all women go through usually in their 40s or 50s. As women age, their fertility decreases until it eventually stops. This process is an actual biological process that mainly concerns changes in levels of certain hormones, particularly oestrogen. Oestrogen is mainly produced […]
What is a ‘good’ fat? What is a ‘bad’ fat? You would be forgiven for being confused. We are constantly bombarded with advice and guidance on what type of fat we should or shouldn’t be eating, even whether we should be eating fat at all! This article will try to […]
What do you know about antioxidants? What do you know about free radicals? We are told that antioxidants are good for our health and reduce free radicals in our body. But really what are these ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’. Let’s start with free radicals Free RadicalsHow do we stop the damaging […]
Introduction The condition of our nails can sometimes reflect the state of our general health. If after depression of the finger nail it does not quickly return to a pink colour after turning white, it could be argued that this is a precursory sign that the individual may be dehydrated […]
IntroductionStructure of hairHair growthFood and nutrients to keep hair healthyOverconsumption of foods and nutrients that can cause hair issuesConclusionsReference Introduction The hair on our head is our crowning glory! We strive to have thick lustrous hair that looks and feels healthy. Our hair is very personal to us and we […]
Structure of skinSkins reflects our health and nutritional statusWhy diet is important for skin healthHydration!Omega fatty acidsIronVitaminsBenefits of supplements Structure of skin Our skin’s structure consists of several layers of different types of cells. The outer most layer exposed to the outside world is the epithelium which along with the […]
Sleep is complex!Circadian rhythmPhases and patterns of sleepThe function and importance of sleepHow does diet effect sleep quality?CarbohydratesMilk drinksFruitConclusionsReference: Sleep is complex! Sleep is a complex phenomenon and is characterised by distinct behavioural, physiological and neurophysiological aspects. As humans we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, and on […]
We are all dependant on the microbiota living in our gut for many bodily functions. But what is the microbiota? Our gut microbiota lives in the large intestine and is made up of a variety of bacteria, fungi, yeast, parasites and viruses. You may be alarmed to read that our […]
Vitamin K is rarely talked about. Most of us know or have heard about vitamins A, B group, C, D and E, but vitamin K does not get that much press. Why is that?? Vitamin K is important mainly for blood clotting, bone formation, as well as for fighting infections […]
The recommended form of vitamin D for the body is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). It is a fat soluble vitamin meaning that it can pass through cell membranes quite easily, and to optimise bioavailability should be consumed with some type of fat or oil. However most of our bodily vitamin D3 […]
What is curcumin?Health BenefitsBioavailability, absorption and metabolism of curcuminCurrent use and clinical trialsReferences: What is curcumin? Curcumin is the pigment found in the spice turmeric which gives it the yellow colour. Approximately 2% of turmeric is curcumin, and it is not readily consumed unless turmeric is added to the diet […]
When you mention wholegrains to anybody, some don’t know what these are, others relate them to not very tasty versions of their favourite foods such as white bread, white rice, white pasta, whilst others think about the fibre they provide in our diet. However wholegrains are much more than this! […]
On this #worldcancerday 4th February 2019 #IAmAndIWill According to the recent publication by the World Cancer Research Fund – Third Expert Report (2018): Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer (based upon strong evidence), there are ten ways you can protect yourself from cancer: The 10 most important points are: 1. […]
