Getting a restful night of deep sleep is essential for our overall health and can make all the difference in our energy levels. So it’s no wonder many people struggle with the effects of persistent poor sleep. Whether the reason is an ongoing medical condition, chronic pain, shift work or a stressful situation, millions of […]
general health
Food intolerance testing
Food intolerance testing has become more popular over the last decade, and more tests are available. But how useful are they? I will explain your options. In the past few years, food intolerance testing has become increasingly popular. But why should you test for intolerances? And, what do these tests tell us? What is food intolerance? […]
What is holistic health?
Holistic Health focuses on the entire person. Rather than treating one aspect of the body, it looks at how each area affects the others. For example, health conditions don’t affect just one body part. With a holistic approach to health, we can see a relationship between the mind and the body. Stress impacts our mental […]
What is flaxseed good for?
This small, nutritious seed is full of good fats and fibre. But do you know what flaxseed is good for in terms of your health?
Why I have a food first approach to optimum health
People that know me well know that good food is essential to me. I even chose my daughters’ school based on the food they offered. It is the same with my patients. My patients know that I am very interested in what they are eating. I have a food first approach when it comes to […]
An intro on adaptogens for stress
Modern life is inherently stressful. The funny thing is that we don’t all respond to stress in the same way. Of course there are situations that we all might struggle to cope with, like the death of a loved one. But in the day to day hurdles of life, it is often the case that […]
What to eat on the Mediterranean diet
As I have discussed before scientific studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest way to eat. There are hundreds if not thousands of studies that support the use of this way of eating for improving health as well as reducing the risk of developing a chronic disease, potentially reversing chronic disease and for […]
Should you eat more whole grains?
In the news last week we saw many articles similar to this one from the BBC website. These articles relate to a World Health Organisation (WHO) funded review in the Lancet that looked at the amount of dietary fibre people eat and how it relates to their health and risk of disease. The general impression of the […]
Why a low fat diet is not the way to go
It’s not surprising that sometimes people get confused about the healthiest way to eat, whether it’s a low fat diet or low carb or something else. There are far too many contradictory messages in the media about the healthiest type of diet. But, as I’ve been telling my patients for quite some time, nobody […]
Are group appointments the answer to the healthcare crisis?
The BBC recently reported a story about the success of group appointments within the NHS. The article said that both patients and GPs benefited. Patients enjoyed peer support. And, GPs said they saved time and did not need to repeat their advice. But are group appointments really the answer to our healthcare crisis?
Simple strategies for preventing a common cold
Are you one of the lucky ones that never seems to catch a cold? If not then you might want to read on. This article is for those people who want to know about some evidence based strategies for preventing a common cold. Of course there are plenty of remedies for reducing the symptoms and […]
Pesticides linked to autism and other chronic diseases
In my article Could indoor toxins be making you ill?, I discuss how the constant exposure to household and workplace toxins can mean these chemicals accumulate in the body. And, how this build up of toxic chemicals may be one factor underlying the rapid increase we are seeing in chronic diseases, such as heart disease, […]
Do you have allergies? Or, is it histamine intolerance…
Histamine is a naturally occurring chemical that has many effects in the human body, including an important role in allergies. In a person with an allergy, the immune system responds to their allergen by releasing histamine, which causes various symptoms depending on the location. For example, in someone that has hayfever, exposure to pollen causes […]
Stop cold sores coming back
Cold sores are the result of a very common and persistent infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. We recognise the infection as small blisters that usually occur on the lips or around the mouth. These blisters or sores can be painful, with burning or itching, and may last up to three weeks without treatment. […]
Why it’s important to manage stress for weight control
There is no doubt that life in the modern world is stressful. Could this stress be one cause of the modern epidemic of obesity? Researchers seem to think so. In another study, researchers showed that it may be important to manage stress if you want to maintain or lose weight. What is stress? Stress is the […]
How to stop sugar cravings – the two week challenge
Everyone knows a healthy diet is low in sugar. Yet if you’ve ever tried to cut down on sweet foods you will know how difficult it can be. Researchers describe sugar cravings as being comparable to those induced by addictive drugs. However, if you can cut out all sugar for two weeks, a recent study suggests […]
How to lower cholesterol naturally with food as medicine
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the body that is vital for health. It is so important to normal body functioning that the body can make its own cholesterol. In fact, if we eat less cholesterol the body makes more in the liver. However, for some people, if cholesterol in the bloodstream is too high, […]
Are these the best healthy snacks ever?
I don’t normally do posts about recipes. There are plenty of other sites that provide healthy recipe ideas. But I just had to share my latest discovery in the quest for the best healthy snacks. Admittedly these are not my creations. I have taken the idea from Dr Terry Wahls recipe book – the Wahls […]
Should you have the annual flu vaccination?
During autumn in the UK, more than 10 million people receive the flu vaccinations. At around £16 per vaccination, this is a substantial cost to the NHS. If the vaccine were effective, this might be a worthy expenditure. Yet, Public Health England admits that the vaccine may be ineffective for many. What is flu? Flu, […]
How much water should I drink a day?
As a herbalist, my patients often tell me “I know I should drink more water.” But, do we really know how much we should drink per day? From the studies on this subject, I would say that it depends on many factors. No study directly answers the question of how much water to drink, but […]
Men’s Health Week 2017 – strategies for weight loss
International Men’s Health Week this year is June 12-18th. This year it is all about the health risks of being overweight. Though both men are women are getting heavier, men are more likely to be overweight. In fact, 67% of men have a BMI over 25. What’s more, overweight men are more likely to carry […]
Soak nuts for better digestion
Nuts are full of healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. They have the potential to be very nutritious foods. Yet for some people they can be difficult to digest.
Try magnesium for better sleep
Magnesium is an important mineral for help with sleep regulation. Yet many people have low levels of this crucial nutrient. If you have insomnia, then read on. This article will explain how best to increase your magnesium levels so you can get better sleep. What is insomnia? Insomnia is a condition of persistent poor sleep. […]
What is gluten? And why do some people avoid eating it?
Recent reports by YouGov and Mintel have found that in the UK people are buying an increasing amount of gluten-free foods. This is because many people now believe that gluten is bad for them. But what is gluten and should anyone avoid eating it? Problematic grains Gluten is the general name for certain proteins in some cereal […]