As a practitioner that uses functional medicine principles it is clear to me that to improve the health of someone with a complex, chronic condition, factors that contribute to the progression or the severity of that condition must be addressed. We might start by optimising lifestyle factors, such as diet, quality of sleep, type of […]
leaky gut
Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England, ahead of cancer and heart disease. Yet, while many people might know someone that has survived cancer, how many people with Alzheimer’s disease do you know that have got better, or even improved? Currently conventional medicine has no treatment for Alzheimers disease that does anything […]
Reduce your IBS symptoms with a low FODMAPs diet
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition of the gastrointestinal tract, and many people say that food either triggers or exacerbate their IBS symptoms. Yet, there is considerable evidence that making a change to a diet low in FODMAPs can help to reduce these symptoms. IBS is a functional condition, meaning that there are […]
Is all processed food unhealthy?
The extent to which a food is processed is a major determinant in how healthy that food is. The Western diet includes many processed foods and even some ultra-processed foods. Researchers now think that this processing may have a large role in what makes the typical Western diet unhealthy. Food processing includes food preparation methods […]
4R – Nutrients that repair a leaky gut
This is the next in a series of blog posts about the 4R program for optimising your digestion and gut health. Here I discuss ways to repair a leaky gut. You can read the previous posts in the series by following the links below. 1 Optimise your digestive health 2 4R program – Remove the triggers […]
Why am I reacting to everything I eat?
As a herbalist, I am often asked this question. If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, avoiding your trigger foods can help to prevent symptoms. Yet, if you’re not sure what your trigger foods are. Or you find yourself eating fewer and fewer foods, it can be a scary outlook. As well as creating a […]
How to fight depression
This is the first part of a three part series about how to fight depression. In this first article I will briefly discuss how stress can cause changes in the body that result in low mood. Then I explain how to fight depression with dietary changes and nutritional supplements. In the second part of the […]
Rosacea and the gut-skin connection
Rosacea is a common inflammatory facial skin condition. In fact it may affect up to 10% fair-skinned people of Northern European descent. People with rosacea often also report having digestive symptoms. So, could this be another condition showing a link between gut health and the skin? Symptoms of rosacea Symptoms usually occur in older people. […]
A different approach to Meniere’s disease
Meniere’s disease is an uncommon, chronic condition of the inner ear. The part of the ear that helps to control balance. It can be a frightening disease with a serious impact on wellbeing and quality of life. The disease often starts between the ages of 40 and 50. Triggered by injury or disease. Research suggests other causes may be genetic, […]
Is bone broth harmful?
If you are trying to heal a leaky gut then you may have heard that bone broth will help. Bone broth is made by simmering bones (usually chicken, lamb, beef or fish) in water. Some people also add vegetables, herbs, seasonings or vinegar. The bones are simmered for a day or more. Longer simmering helps to break […]
Can a leaky gut cause migraines?
An estimated 15% of the population suffer from migraine headaches at least once. With more women than men affected. Those affected tend to need long term medication. But, prescribed medicines tend to be only partially effective, and have side effects. This leaves many people living with severe pain on a regular basis without hope of […]
Do you have a leaky gut?
The digestive tract is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from our food. This involves the movement of digested food molecules through a porous intestinal lining and into the circulation. This means that to absorb nutrients we must always to some extent, have a leaky gut. To facilitate the digestive process the structure of the […]
