embracing-nutrition

Do you dread the long dark evenings? Is it a struggle to crawl out of bed in the darkness of winter mornings? If so, you’re not alone, because an estimated one in three people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately known as SAD. Read on for some practical tips to avoid the … Read more

Did you know the bacteria living in your gut, collectively called your microbiome, don’t only influence how well you digest and absorb nutrients, but affect more or less every part of your body, including your brain? In this blog you’ll learn how your microbiome influences behaviour, particularly in relation to autism. Meet Your Microbiome Your … Read more

Are you growing your moustache for Movember? It’s that time of the year again when men across the globe begin sporting facial hair of all sizes, shapes and colours. Movember aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer and has so far raised almost £400 million to support men’s health. Discover how you can naturally support … Read more

Are you one of the 10% of people worldwide living with diabetes? World Diabetes Day coincides with the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, one of the discoverers of insulin. Read on to learn about the connection between insulin resistance and diabetes, and how to reduce your risk. Introducing Insulin Insulin is a hormone produced by … Read more

Alcohol has been used as a social drug for around ten thousand years. You’ve probably seen many contradictory headlines about alcohol and wondered what effect it’s really having on your health. As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, read on for plenty of interesting facts about alcohol and learn about some of its unexpected health effects.  … Read more

Did you know stress causes measurable chemical changes in your body? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to look at those chemicals and see exactly how stress is affecting your health? Read on to discover what your stress hormones are saying about you. Your Response to Stress National Stress Awareness Day provides an opportunity … Read more

Are you constantly tired? Is your hair and skin dry and dull? Do you feel the cold and have trouble losing weight? These are all classic symptoms of a struggling thyroid gland, yet despite your suspicions your blood test results may have shown nothing wrong. Or are you taking thyroxine, your levels seemingly within range … Read more

If there’s ever a much-maligned and misunderstood substance, it’s cholesterol. Painted as a villain as it wreaks havoc clogging up your arteries, you may believe it’s only possible to be healthy if your cholesterol is low. To coincide with National Cholesterol Awareness Month, let’s become a little more familiar with cholesterol You Need Cholesterol Cholesterol … Read more

Do you suffer from the dreaded menopausal night sweats, forgetfulness, achy joints and insomnia? Maybe you’re wondering why you’re affected, while other women seemingly breeze through their menopause? Menopause is a natural transition experienced by every woman – it’s not a disease and you shouldn’t have to live with these uncomfortable symptoms. In celebration of … Read more

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month runs throughout October, aiming to increase understanding of the disease and its risk factors. During this October alone, around 5,000 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Read on to discover how diet and lifestyle influence the development or recurrence of breast cancer, so you can take … Read more

If you regularly suffer from PMS, you don’t need me to remind you how much it can get you down. Although every sufferer experiences PMS slightly differently, you may find the troublesome psychological and physical symptoms significantly impair your quality of life. PMS symptoms are caused because of imbalances in oestrogen and progesterone, your female … Read more

Do you suffer from cystitis over and over again? Do you dread the warning signs – the burning sensation when you pee, and feeling like you need to visit the toilet every ten minutes? Read on because help is at hand. Urology Awareness Month runs throughout September, and although urology covers the kidneys, bladder and, … Read more

If you’ve watched a loved one slowly develop the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, you’ll know what a debilitating and distressing condition it is. World Alzheimer’s Day aims to improve understanding about this frightening and devastating disease. By highlighting issues faced by people with Alzheimer’s, its goal is to reduce the stigma faced by sufferers. In this … Read more

Do you know what your blood pressure should be? Read on to make sense of the numbers adding up to healthy blood pressure. Know Your Numbers week runs from the 7th – 14th September. A campaign by Blood Pressure UK, it aims to raise awareness of the importance of your blood pressure being within the normal range. During the week, blood pressure is usually checked for free at … Read more

With the new school term looming, you may wonder how to ensure your child’s immune system is in tip–top condition ahead of fresh challenges related to social distancing. Our immune system does an amazing job in protecting us from bacterial and viral infections, but compromised immunity means your child may be more likely to pick up infections and take longer to recover. It makes sense … Read more

When you look back over 2020 so far, what is your predominant emotion? For many, it’s a heightened sense of anxiety. Any unpredictable, potentially life-threatening event outside of your control is bound to cause fear and stress. Add in social separation from and concern for loved ones, money worries and upheaval of normal work and schooling routines, and this … Read more

As a Functional Medicine practitioner, I’m interested in finding out the causes of your health problems and this means a lot of detective work to discover imbalances in your organs and systems. To help pinpoint these I use specific tests allowing me to take a detailed look at the biochemistry of your body. In this blog we’ll dive into one test I use to examine hormone balance, the Dried Urine Test … Read more

Holidays are meant to be relaxing, but world events may mean travelling abroad is too stressful for you to contemplate right now. Even staying safe holidaying within the UK can be a challenging prospect if you’re worried about COVID 19. So why not holiday at home instead this year? Read on to discover some inspiring … Read more

Now summer is officially here, why not make the most of the immune-supporting effects of spending time in nature? Heading out for a picnic is also safe way to connect with loved ones. To give you some inspiration, here are some healthy, delicious and portable picnic ideas packed with nutrition as well as flavour. Grab your picnic blanket and … Read more

Tiny differences in one of your genes can have wide-ranging effects on your health. Chances are you’ve never heard of your MTHFR gene, and you probably wouldn’t suspect it of contributing to your health problems. In this blog we’ll examine the link between this gene and a process called methylation. Knowing how your genetic inheritance affects methylation can help you live your healthiest life. Do you Have a Genetic Mutation? Your genes have … Read more

Your mitochondria are tiny energy factories found in every single cell of your body. When they aren’t fully charged, you’ll lack energy and feel fatigued. If you’re sleepwalking through life or experiencing seemingly unrelated symptoms affecting your wellbeing, your cellular batteries could be empty. In a previous blog we looked at what your mitochondria need … Read more

Do you wish you had more energy? Did you drag yourself out of bed this morning only to feel fatigued and foggy–headed? In this blog we’ll look at how your body produces energy, as well as the substances your energy factories need to perform at their best. We’ll also provide you with some solutions to recharge your batteries and restore your energy. Mitochondria – … Read more

Your immune system is crucial to keep you healthy. It acts as a detective, patrolling your body for invaders and responding to threats by neutralising dangerous substances and repairing any damage. When your immune system fails to recognise hazards, invaders such as bacteria and viruses can reproduce, and you’ll fall ill. If it doesn’t properly … Read more

Around 2300 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year, with the number of cases doubling in the last 50 years. To coincide with Men’s Health Week, in this blog we’ll share some information about testicular cancer, and how you can reduce your risk. What is Testicular Cancer? Testicular cancer starts in one of your testicles, the male … Read more

Are you one of the 13 million people in the UK who suffer from hay fever? Hay fever can leave you feeling rough – itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, headaches, cough, sinus congestion and itching skin all causing daytime misery and problems sleeping. In this article you’ll find out why hay fever occurs as well as some tips to manage the … Read more

Are you concerned about your bone health? If so, you’re not alone – over three million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis. The word osteoporosis literally means ‘porous bones’, with bones becoming less dense and more liable to fracture. Often, osteoporosis doesn’t give rise to any early warning symptoms. Many people leave it until they experience a fracture before giving … Read more

With social distancing set to continue for the time being, home-working is now well established as the new norm. If you belong to the 60% of the UK population who’ve never worked from home before the pandemic, the shift in working life can be challenging. Working remotely from your colleagues can be isolating, increase anxiety and stress, and can impact upon your mental health. Read on for some top tips … Read more

Inflammation is increasingly recognised as a factor in chronic illness. In this article we’ll take a closer look at inflammation and what happens when it becomes out of control. There are two types of inflammation – acute inflammation, which is your friend, and chronic inflammation, which is most definitely not welcome. Inflammation can be Useful When you hear the word … Read more

Do you have a sweet tooth, or reach for sugary treats when you’re stressed and your energy is flagging? If so, chances are you’re suffering from unbalanced blood sugar. In this article, you’ll find out why fluctuations in your blood sugar are bad news for your health. The Sugar Rollercoaster Every cell of your body uses glucose, obtained from … Read more

While you’re busy concentrating on consuming plenty of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants crucial to health, don’t forget about fibre. In this article we’ll discover the many health benefits of this often–overlooked part of your diet. What is Fibre? Fibre is contained in the carbohydrate found in plant foods. It’s the part humans are unable to digest. Most foods contain a mixture of two kinds of fibre, soluble and insoluble. Insoluble Fibre Insoluble … Read more

When you imagine your immune system, you probably think of white blood cells racing around your body to seek out and destroy invaders such as bacteria, viruses and other nasties. It may come as a surprise to learn over three quarters of your immune system is located in your gut. Far from simply concerning itself simply with … Read more

Chances are you’ve felt the effects of stress since lockdown was introduced. For many people, the uncertainty and lack of control connected with coronavirus is hard to cope with. Stress affects everyone in different ways, and you are unique in what you perceive as a stressor. It may be family conflict, concern for the health of isolated loved ones, … Read more

Your immune system is your body’s first line of defence against bacterial or viral infections. When a virus enters your body, various types of white blood cells are mobilised. These are designed to resist viruses, reduce their adverse effects and remember them for the future. A healthy immune system plays a crucial role in whether you fall ill in the … Read more

In these uncertain times, usual routines have been abandoned and responsibilities changed. You may find yourself with less time available to exercise, maybe because of home-schooling or caring responsibilities. Or you may have more time on your hands because of reductions in work priorities and the disappearance of regular social activities. Exercise is central to wellbeing, because it can have a significant impact not only on your … Read more

Please remember the virus can last for up to 3 days on surfaces such as plastic cardboard and metal Remove your jewelry before you leave the house Only take what is absolutely necessary out with you, avoid reusable shopping bags and even hand-bags purses and wallets. Avoid using cash. Wash hands before you come into your home if you can (use an outside tap or … Read more

With everyone in the UK now being urged to socially distance themselves from others, and many self-isolating, it’s natural to feel emotions such as panic, anxiety, loneliness and depression. During this time of uncertainty you may feel you have no control over your situation, which can switch on your stress reaction. Your body then prepares for you to run away or fight. Right now, you’re being asked to do … Read more

Your alternating pattern of sleeping during the night and staying awake during the day is known as your sleep/wake cycle or circadian rhythm. This is controlled by a hormone called melatonin. The correct level of melatonin at the appropriate time helps to regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Scientists have discovered melatonin plays other roles, too. In … Read more

Some of the simplest lifestyle strategies can seem challenging to fit into your daily routine. Take movement. We all move, but do we do it enough? This article will emphasise the importance of movement, as well as bringing you some easy ways to move more. We are Designed to Move Throughout evolution, nature has designed us for activity. Originally … Read more

With coronavirus dominating the daily news, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Read on to discover the importance of a healthy immune system and some natural ways to protect yourself as the outbreak arrives in the UK. What Exactly is the Coronavirus? Coronavirus, or SARS-Cov-2, is a novel type of virus never before detected in humans. The infection it causes is known as COVID-19. … Read more