Food for thought
Christmas may well be the, ‘most wonderful time of the year ding dong, ding dong,’ with big family gatherings, office parties and nights out with friends. Everyone is relaxed and will quite happily eat their way through a whole raft of naughty treats washed down with a steady flow of intoxicating (and toxic) substances! What … Read More
When describing something to a friend recently I concluded by saying, ‘it’s like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it,’ to which she replied, ‘But what if I just quite like Marmite?’ This made me think about how black and white we are about things we love or hate and how much easier it … Read More
You would have to have been living under a stone for the past few years not to have been aware of the massive trend in diets which involve an element of fasting whether it be Michael Mosley 5:2 diet or Time Restricted Eating and indeed I have incorporated such methods into weight loss programmes for … Read More
My health goal this week is to eat dark chocolate every day! When chocolate is more often associated with indulgence why would I do this? Firstly it happens to be National Chocolate Week and I don’t need much encouragement or excuse to indulge in the wonderful stuff! Secondly chocolate really is seriously good for heart … Read More
Most people don’t give a second’s thought to their skin – unless they’re scowling at the wrinkles or wobbly bits in the mirror. It’s already doing a fabulous job keeping your insides in, protecting you from infection and radiation, and keeping you warm. There’s also a huge amount you can do to keep your skin … Read More
9 foods nutritionists never eat! There is an argument that all foods are OK in moderation and I would go along with this to an extent. If you’re a healthy weight and adopting an 80:20 approach to your diet i.e. eating healthily 80% of the time and allowing a 20% indulgence in foods you love … Read More
If you want to eat food when it is at its most nutritious, at its freshest and most likely at its cheapest too, then you need to be eating food which is in season! So what is in season at this time of year? To name but a few we have brussel sprouts, beetroot, leeks, … Read More
Have you ever fancied being a guinea pig? Go on you know you have! To cut to the chase I’m trying to prove that eating pineapple can reduce the pain, inflammation and swelling associated with arthritis? If you don’t have arthritis don’t stop reading as pineapple can also help with digestive issues such as gas, … Read More
I always have a dilemma when I go on holiday as I quite like to simplify my skin care regime but simultaneously I want to retain the benefits of my Environ products at a time when my skin probably needs it the most. Environ don’t do travel sized products which is a shame and I … Read More
Have you noticed that there is another series of Doctor in the house featuring Dr.Chatterjee being broadcast at the moment? If not then take note, it’s definitely worth watching! So what is it that I like about Dr. Chatterjee, apart from being ‘drop dead gorgeous! ‘ No seriously I like the holistic and integrated approach he takes towards addressing health issues. He takes us away … Read More
Why is Environ often the preferred skin care regime for Nutritional Therapists? As Nutritional Therapists we deal with clients with an array of health concerns of which skin conditions are quite high up there on the list. Diet has a huge part to play in the correction of skin conditions or concerns either directly because of nutrient deficiencies … Read More
What would you say to a diet which could prevent Alzheimer’s and sort out any weight issues? Bring it on I hear you say! If I was to say that eating fat as your main source of energy, including saturated fat is the answer I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you were a little sceptical! … Read More
The short answer in my opinion is Yes and for the following reasons: Reason 1: Vitamin D is perhaps our most important micronutrient We generally think of Vitamin D as being important in relation to our teeth and bones and indeed it is, and there has been plenty of other research over the past few years relating … Read More
1.Watermelon protects against the harmful effects of the sun Watermelon contains a phytonutrient called lycopene which is well known for providing long term protection from the harmful rays of the sun. In fact, Watermelon contains more lycopene than tomatoes. 2.Watermelon replaces important nutrients lost through drinking alcohol There is a tendency to drink more alcohol … Read More
Don’t you just love the sun? But, like oh so many things, yes it’s bad for you! Unfortunately it can damage the skin, lead to premature ageing and skin cancer. Great! So what can you do to help protect your skin from the sun? Well, conventional advice relating to protecting ourselves from the harmful effects of the … Read More
Not only do fruit and vegetables taste better if eaten in season but they can incur amazing health benefits too! So what should we be eating in June to super charge our health? Spinach for the heart, brain and colon Abundant flavonoids in spinach act as antioxidants to keep cholesterol from oxidizing and protect … Read More
Eat Fat, Lose Weight, this is Atkins right? You could hardly fail to notice that the latest trend in weight loss seems to be high fat diets! After forty years of being brain washed by low fat diets It takes a hugh leap of faith for us to take on board a complete reversal of views! … Read More
We have become so spoilt by the choice of fruit and vegetables in our supermarket that it’s easy to forget which fruit and vegetables are in season and which aren’t. Its great to have choice and variety but we should embrace seasonal fruit and vegetables and make extensive use of it while it is … Read More
In my practice I see a lot with clients with skin complaints whether it be acne, psoriasis, eczema or simply skin ageing. Conventionally skin problems are treated in isolation with lotions and potions applied topically to the skin to treat the symptoms. Note the use of the word symptoms here!Yes skin complaints are symptoms and they are … Read More
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease and is often referred to as degenerative joint disease as it involves loss of cartilage, the gel like shock-absorbing material which prevents adjacent bones from touching. It is the bones rubbing together which causes the pain and inflammation associated … Read More
I quite often get asked about my opinion on various diets as to how ‘healthy’ they are and recently quite a lot of enquiries re The Paleo Diet? I don’t follow The Paleo Diet but it has urged me to look a little closer at it in order to form an opinion. First and … Read More
I think that you might agree that Health and Christmas don’t always sit well in the same sentence but believe me when it comes to matters of health Christmas really doesn’t need to be, ‘all or nothing,’ or, ‘make or break,’ it’s all down to balance. There are many traditional seasonal foods which are … Read More
The art of healthy eating on a budget Healthy eating really doesn’t need to be an expensive business and I think sometimes people use cost as an excuse for not eating healthily. It’s also worth remembering that as a nation healthy eating has often been more prevalent during times of austerity than it has been … Read More
Dr. in the House If you are interested in how changing your diet and lifestyle can help with health issues and sometimes even reverse a serious disease like Type 2 diabetes then you must watch Dr. in the House BBC1 9pm.There are three episodes and the first one was last week but you will be … Read More
Is your environment making you fat or unhealthy? As we all know it is one thing intending to eat healthily and/or to lose weight but it’s another thing actually doing what we need to do to make it happen! This is an ages old problem! Being clear about your health goals can be a huge … Read More
What’s sapping your energy and what can you do? One of the biggest complaints from my clients is lack of energy. Energy seems to be one of those illusive things which people always want more of. It is very rarely one thing which is responsible for sapping energy, invariably it is a combination of many … Read More
Are all calories equal or are some calories more equal than others? Calorie counting has dictated weight management programmes for decades and is based on the principle of energy in versus energy out using the calorie as a measurement of energy. The idea is that if energy input is greater than our energy output then … Read More
I think we are probably getting the message that we are eating too much sugar, too much salt and not enough fibre. It’s one thing knowing this and quite another actually doing something about it. Of course the very best way to put this right is to cook everything from scratch using good quality raw … Read More
So ok, what is the one stop solution to weight loss and health? I’ll give you the answer now and then explain. It’s just simply this, ‘Don’t eat processed foods’ In short processing food: • alters its chemical nature • reduces its nutrient value • makes it difficult for the body to digest. The consequences … Read More
Do you want healthy food choices in Restaurants and Supermarkets? There seems to have been a whole raft of newspaper articles recently complaining as to how difficult it is for families to eat healthily in restaurants. I personally don’t find it difficult to eat healthily in restaurants, it’s down to a simple matter of choosing … Read More
Should we be eating red meat? With the recent report by the World Health Organisation warning that processed meat and possibly red meat can cause cancer I guess there will be many people out there tempted to turn vegetarian? Don’t do anything rash!! I have put together a few Do’s and a few Don’t here … Read More
Symptoms of poor digestion not only cause discomfort but are a clear indication that you are not digesting your food properly or effectively absorbing their nutrients. Here are 7 simple things you can do to start to improve your digestion now. 1. Start the day with hot lemon and ginger A mug of fresh hot … Read More
In a fit of enthusiasm and determination to lose weight it is very easy to fall into the trap of setting rules and regulations which may be both punishing and difficult to sustain and which may inadvertently promote weight gain. I hope these 7 tips will help put you straight on some common pit fall. … Read More
In his defence of a recent attack on the food industry by NHS chief Mr Stevens to cut sugar or face regulation, Ian Wright director general of the food and Drink Federation claimed that there was no link between sugar intake and type 2 diabetes, heart health or cancer. He made it clear that it … Read More
The WHO is recommending we cut sugar to 5% of our daily intake. Many people including some, ‘dieticians,’ are saying this is unrealistic! I would say that this is simply not the case and if we are serious about cutting the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and tacking obesity we simply have to take this on … Read More
If you don’t fancy an intake of up to 20 chemicals in your glass of milk, there are other great sources of calcium.
Detox – The Good, The Bad and The Extreme.
There is a happy medium you know!
I picked up a truly awful book in a discounted book store a few years back which I wouldn’t recommend you read, but I would like to share the experience with you…
The most common complaint that I get from clients is low energy and feeling tired all the time. Have you ever stopped to think about how energy is produced in the body and what the basic building blocks are? If not then read on…
Tomatoes could be the new weapon in the fight against sun damage to the skin, research at the Universities of Newcastle and Manchester has revealed.
The days become cooler and shorter as we head into winter, and in the same way as we wrap up warm to keep out the cold, we should also protect ourselves against infection by boosting our immune system.
The glycaemic index (GI) measures the speed with which foods are converted into glucose and therefore how quickly they enter the blood stream.
Adopting a low GL diet is the most satisfying and effective approach to sustained weight loss.
The days become cooler and shorter as we head into winter, and in the same way as we wrap up warm to keep out the cold, we should also protect ourselves against infection by boosting our immune system.
You may have noticed that this week is National Chocolate week-Why? I’m not really sure although I would imagine that chocolate manufacturers may have something to do with it!
Jamie Oliver is back on our screens again and in the news. His new TV series and campaign, Ministry of Food, is aimed at encouraging people to cook proper food with a view towards curbing obesity and improving the health of the nation.
You may have read recently about Charles Saatchi’s drastic but effective weight loss plan. Husband of Domestic Goddess Nigela Lawson restricted himself to a diet of nine eggs a day and absolutely nothing else. He did manage to lose four stone in nine months but at what price?