One of the easiest ways to differentiate between these therapies is to understand that PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) was the original breakthrough, becoming widely used in the early 2000s. This was followed by the adoption of PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) in the late 2000s and early 2010s. PRFM (Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix), the most recent development, gained popularity in the 2010s. These platelet-rich therapies have been progressively refined to optimize their potential and have found applications in various medical fields. Let’s dive into some more detailed information about these incredible therapies.

PRP Therapy: The Essential Information

What is PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)?

PRP, or Platelet-Rich Plasma, is a type of treatment that uses the patient's own blood to promote healing in damaged tissues. By drawing a small amount of blood and separating the platelets from other components, a concentrated plasma rich in growth factors is obtained. These growth factors help stimulate tissue healing support.

How does PRP treatment work?

When Platelet-Rich Plasma is injected into an injured area, the concentrated platelets release growth factors that initiate the body's natural wound-healing process. These growth factors promote cell proliferation, collagen production, and blood vessel formation, enhancing tissue repair support.

PRP has been used successfully in orthopaedics, sports medicine, dermatology, hair growth, and dentistry, among others.

Benefits of PRP treatments for accelerating wound healing

PRP treatment has shown promising results in various medical fields. It can accelerate the wound healing process, reduce pain and inflammation, and improve tissue function.

PRF: The Essential Information

What is PRF?

PRF, or Platelet-Rich Fibrin, is a second-generation platelet-rich therapy. Similar to PRP, it utilizes the patient's blood, but the processing method differs. PRF is an autologous blood product obtained by centrifuging the blood without anticoagulants, resulting in a fibrin clot that contains platelets.

What is the mechanism behind PRF?

PRF releases growth factors in a sustained manner, thanks to its fibrin matrix. This matrix acts as a three-dimensional support structure for cells, enhancing tissue healing. It provides a more natural and prolonged release of growth factors.

Benefits of PRF treatment for repairing tissues

PRF has been widely used in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and plastic and

reconstructive surgery. It promotes soft tissue grafting, wound healing, bone healing, and

periodontal healing among other applications.

What is PRFM therapy?

PRFM, or Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix, takes platelet-rich therapies to the most advanced level. It combines the benefits of PRP and PRF, utilizing a matrix or scaffold-like substance to retain and maximize the platelet concentration and growth factors and eliminate red blood cells and white blood cells.

What is the science behind PRFM?

PRFM involves additional processing steps of PRF to create a spongy gel-like substance or fibrin matrix. This matrix provides a sustained release of growth factors and offers a supportive structure for cells, enhancing tissue healing.

Benefits of PRFM for healing and repairing tissues

PRFM has found applications in aesthetics, dermatology, and plastic surgery. It can be incorporated into facial treatments (vampire facials), reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance wound healing and scar revision.

Similar Procedures with Slight Variations

All three therapies use autologous platelets, from the patient's own whole blood sample, minimizing side effects and risk of infection

All three therapies stimulate cell and collagen growth but in differing ways

They use different centrifugation parameters, for example, PRF uses a lower spin speed

All three therapies may use acid citrate in the test tubes as an anticoagulant to prevent blood clotting during the processing and preparation stages, enabling the separation and concentration of platelets.

All three therapies may use calcium chloride as an activator in PRP, PRF, and PRFM therapies to stimulate the release of growth factors from platelets.

PRP, PRF, and PRFM: Which is Better?

When it comes to choosing between PRP, PRF, and PRFM, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The selection depends on the unique needs of each individual patient. While these platelet-rich therapies share similarities, understanding their differences is crucial for making an informed decision. Consulting a physician is essential in determining which treatment option will best suit your specific requirements. Here are some key points to consider:

Individualized Approach: PRP, PRF, and PRFM offer tailored solution therapies, ensuring that the treatment aligns with your specific condition, desired outcomes, and medical history.

Efficacy for Different Applications: Depending on condition being treated, one therapy may demonstrate superior efficacy compared to the others. 

Treatment Duration: The duration of treatment effects can vary. PRP therapy typically lasts for a few weeks, providing short to medium-term benefits. PRF therapy, on the other hand, may offer effects lasting several months. PRFM, with its enhanced scaffold-like matrix, tends to provide extended support for tissue repair, with prolonged release of healing factors.

Consultation with a Practitioner: To determine the most suitable treatment option, it's essential to consult with a knowledgeable practitioner. They will thoroughly evaluate your condition, discuss your goals, and recommend the most appropriate treatment based on their expertise and experience.

Personalized Treatment Plans: Practitioners will develop personalized treatment plans that take into account factors such as the severity of the condition, location of the injury, and desired outcomes. This ensures that you receive the most effective and customized approach to maximize healing potential.

Remember, the key to making an informed decision between PRP, PRF, and PRFM lies in understanding your unique needs and seeking professional guidance. By working closely with a skilled practitioner, you can embark on a therapy that is tailored to your specific requirements, leading to optimal outcomes and a faster path to recovery.

Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cells

Many people have questions about the effect of PRP/PRF/PRFM on stem cells. Stem cells play a role in the context of PRP, PRF, and PRFM therapies, although they are not directly incorporated into these treatments.

PRP, PRF, and PRFM therapies primarily utilize platelets derived from the patient's own blood. Platelets contain growth factors that promote tissue healing. While these therapies do not introduce stem cells directly, the growth factors released by platelets can promote their activity.

So, while stem cells are not directly incorporated into PRP, PRF, or PRFM therapies, the growth factors released by platelets in these treatments can indirectly stimulate the body's natural stem cells and contribute to tissue healing.

Summary

Platelet-rich therapies such as PRP, PRF, and PRFM are superior treatment options to traditional therapies and have gained significant attention for their ability to heal tissue damage using the body's natural healing abilities with less trauma. There are key differences, however, so choosing a therapy will be done using a case-by-case approach.

PRP treatments, the original breakthrough, utilizes concentrated plasma rich in growth factors to stimulate tissue healing. PRF, a second-generation platelet concentrate therapy, releases growth factors in a sustained manner through a fibrin matrix, promoting tissue healing support PRFM, the most advanced therapy, combines the benefits of PRP and PRF by utilizing a spongy fibrin matrix to protect and retain concentrated platelets and growth factors. While these therapies share similarities, their concentrations, duration of effect, and applications differ. 

Choosing the right therapy is done on a case-by-case basis and should be done in consultation with a knowledgeable practitioner. By understanding the unique benefits and seeking personalized treatment plans, patients can embark on a therapy journey tailored to their specific requirements, leading to optimal outcomes and a faster path to recovery.

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Vitamin K plays a pivotal role in various essential bodily functions. In this blog we'll delve into the world of vitamin K and how it positively affects human health.

The Vitamin K Spectrum

Vitamin K is an essential mineral that has several varieties, including K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) comes from plants, especially leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is naturally created in the intestinal tract and works similarly to K1. These vitamins work together to support various physiological processes.

Blood Clotting and Coagulation

Vitamin K's most renowned role is in blood clotting and coagulation. It's essential for the production of clotting factors that help prevent excessive bleeding when we're injured. Without sufficient vitamin K, our blood would struggle to coagulate, leading to potential haemorrhages.

Bone Health

Emerging research indicates that vitamin K is crucial for bone health. It aids in the activation of osteocalcin, a protein that helps bind calcium to bone mineral, strengthening bone density. Ensuring adequate vitamin K intake may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Cardiovascular Health

Vitamin K is associated with cardiovascular health, primarily due to its role in calcium regulation. Adequate vitamin K levels help prevent the unwanted calcification of blood vessels and arteries, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

Brain Function and Cognitive Health

Recent studies suggest a link between vitamin K and cognitive health. Vitamin K may help protect against age-related cognitive decline by supporting brain cell survival and function. Further research is ongoing in this promising area.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Vitamin K exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for overall health. Chronic inflammation is linked to various diseases, and vitamin K may contribute to reducing inflammatory markers in the body.

Healthy Pregnancy

Vitamin K plays a vital role in newborn health. Newborns are typically born with low vitamin K levels, which can lead to a rare but serious bleeding disorder called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). To prevent this, infants receive a vitamin K injection shortly after birth.

What foods are rich in vitamin K?

The most common foods with high vitamin K are green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and lettuce. K2 is found in fermented foods like natto, a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, and certain cheeses.

Supplements are also available for those with dietary restrictions or absorption issues. However, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider to determine individual needs.

Vitamin K deficiency

Your body needs vitamin K in order to produce the proteins that go to work during the clotting process. If you’re vitamin K deficient, your body doesn’t have enough of these proteins.

Vitamin K deficiency is rare in adults because many of the foods we eat contain adequate amounts of K1, and because the body makes K2 on its own. Plus, the body is good at recycling its existing supply of vitamin K. However, certain conditions and some drugs can interfere with vitamin K absorption and creation, making it possible to become deficient.

Symptoms

In adults, a vitamin K deficiency tends to cause excessive bleeding. Bleeding might come in the form of nosebleeds, heavy periods, blood in the urine, or bleeding from the gums. Bleeding might also occur under the skin, causing severe bruising or petechiae – these are small red spots that appear on the skin, resembling a rash.

The bleeding may also be apparent if someone:

• bruises easily

• gets small blood clots underneath their nails

• bleeds in mucous membranes that line areas inside the body

• produces stool that looks dark black (almost like tar) and contains some blood

Summary

While vitamin K may not enjoy the same spotlight as other vitamins, its significance in human health cannot be overstated. From blood clotting to bone health, cardiovascular support, and potential cognitive benefits, vitamin K is a hidden hero. Recognizing its importance and ensuring an adequate intake empowers us to make informed choices that positively impact our health and well-being throughout life.

How BioMed can help

Claudia, your Biomed Health Care Professional, can determine whether you are deficient in vitamins, minerals and amino acids using computerised screening known as Bioresonance Testing and Quantum Analysis. The reports produced can help Claudia formulate a personalised health care plan which may include supplements, Bioregulatory medicine and/or IV Therapy

Probiotics: these tiny, beneficial microorganisms have been making big waves in the world of health and wellness. Found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, as well as in supplements, these friendly bacteria offer a host of benefits for our bodies. Let's dive into the fascinating world of probiotics and how they positively affect human health.

Understanding Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, particularly your digestive system. While the term "bacteria" might raise alarm bells, it's important to note that not all bacteria are harmful. Probiotics are the good guys, and they help maintain a balanced microbial community in our gut, also known as the microbiome.

The Gut-Mind Connection

One of the most intriguing aspects of probiotics is their impact on mental health. Emerging research suggests a strong connection between gut health and the brain. The gut is often called the "second brain" because it contains a vast network of neurons and produces neurotransmitters like serotonin, which play a key role in mood regulation. Probiotics can influence this gut-brain axis, potentially improving mood and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Immune System Support

Our immune system's health depends significantly on the gut. Probiotics help boost our immune defences by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of harmful ones. They also enhance the gut's barrier function, preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream and causing inflammation.

Digestive Harmony

Probiotics are renowned for their digestive benefits. They can alleviate common issues like bloating, gas, and diarrhoea by restoring balance in the gut. In particular, they are effective in managing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Skin Glow and Allergies

Believe it or not, the benefits of probiotics extend to the skin. A healthy gut can translate to a radiant complexion, as probiotics may help manage skin conditions like acne and eczema. Additionally, they can reduce the severity of allergies by modulating the body's immune response.

Food sources of probiotics include:

Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics. It’s made from milk fermented by probiotics, mainly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.

Health benefits associated with eating yogurt include:

• improved bone, heart, and gastrointestinal health

• reduced risk of diabetes

• reduced risk of breast and colon cancer

• improved weight management

Additionally, yogurt may be suitable for people with lactose intolerance. This is because the bacteria turn some of the lactose into lactic acid, which is also what gives yogurt its sour taste.

But keep in mind that not all yogurt contains live probiotics. Processing can sometimes kill the live bacteria. For this reason, make sure to choose yogurt with active or live cultures.

Kefir

Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk drink. It’s made by adding kefir grains to cow’s or goat’s milk. Kefir grains are not cereal grains but rather cultures of lactic acid bacteria and yeast that look a bit like cauliflower. Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria and yeast, making it a more diverse and potent probiotic source compared to yogurt.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by lactic acid bacteria. In addition to its probiotic qualities, sauerkraut is rich in fibre as well as vitamins C and K. It is also high in sodium and contains iron and potassium. Sauerkraut also contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for eye health.

Make sure to choose unpasteurized sauerkraut. Pasteurization kills the live and active bacteria.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a fermented, spicy Korean side dish. Cabbage is usually the main ingredient, but it can also be made from other vegetables. Kimchi is flavoured with a mix of seasoning, such as red Chili pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, spring onions, and salt. It contains the bacteria Lactobacillus kimchii and other lactic acid bacteria that may benefit digestive health.

Pickles

Pickles (also known as gherkins) are cucumbers that have been preserved in a solution of salt and water. They are left to ferment for some time, using their own naturally present lactic acid bacteria. This process makes them sour. Pickled cucumbers are a great source of healthy probiotic bacteria, which may improve digestive health. They are also low in calories and a good source of vitamin K, an essential nutrient for blood clotting.

It’s important to note that pickles made with vinegar do not contain live probiotics.

Summary

Probiotics are more than just a trendy health supplement; they are essential for maintaining a healthy gut, a robust immune system, and even a happier mind. By incorporating probiotic-rich foods into your diet or choosing the right supplement, you can harness the incredible power of these tiny gut superheroes to enhance your overall health and well-being. Remember, a healthier gut today can lead to a happier, more vital you tomorrow.

How BioMed can help

Claudia, your Biomed Health Care Professional, can determine whether you are deficient in vitamins and/or minerals using computerised screening known as Bioresonance Testing and Quantum Analysis. The results of this screening can help Claudia formulate a personalised health care plan which may include supplements, bioregulatory medicine or IV Therapy

Enzymes, often referred to as nature's catalysts, are indispensable to human life. In this blog post, we'll explore the world of enzymes and their remarkable positive impact on various aspects of human health.

Enzymes: The Biological Workers

Enzymes are proteins produced within our cells that facilitate and accelerate vital chemical reactions in the body. They play an essential role in nearly every physiological process, ranging from digestion to DNA replication.

Digestive Dynamo

Digestive enzymes break down the foods we eat into smaller, absorbable molecules. Amylase, protease, and lipase, among others, target carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, respectively. The pancreas is the enzyme “powerhouse” of digestion. It produces the most important digestive enzymes, which are those that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Proper digestion is the foundation of nutrient absorption, ensuring our bodies receive essential vitamins and minerals.

Symptoms of Digestive Enzyme Insufficiency

Digestive enzyme insufficiency can lead to malnutrition or gastrointestinal irritation. Common symptoms include:

• Belly pain or cramps

• Bloating

• Diarrhoea

• Gas

• Oily stools (bowel movements)

• Unexplained weight loss

Digestive enzyme supplements

If you feel like you need a little extra help and support with your digestion, then it may be worth taking an additional digestive enzyme supplement.

Digestive enzyme supplements are dietary supplements which contain one or more of the digestive enzymes which are released naturally into your gut by the digestive system.

Metabolism and Energy Production

Enzymes are key players in energy metabolism. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, the body's primary energy currency, relies on enzymes within the mitochondria. Enzymes help convert nutrients into ATP, fuelling cellular processes and sustaining life.

Detoxification and Defence

Enzymes are instrumental in detoxifying the body. The liver employs various enzymes to neutralize and eliminate toxins and harmful substances, ensuring our well-being. Enzymes also contribute to the body's defence mechanisms, breaking down pathogens and foreign invaders.

Anti-Inflammatory Allies

Some enzymes possess anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain, (found in pineapple) and papain, (found in papaya), have been studied for their ability to reduce inflammation and alleviate conditions like osteoarthritis.

Immune System Modulators

Enzymes like catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) help regulate the immune system. They combat oxidative stress by neutralizing harmful free radicals, bolstering the body's defence against infections and diseases.

Wound Healing and Tissue Repair

Enzymes are involved in tissue repair and wound healing. Proteolytic enzymes, such as collagenase, break down damaged tissues to pave the way for new tissue growth. This process is crucial for recovery from injuries and surgeries.

Supplementing with Enzymes

Enzyme supplements are available for various purposes, from aiding digestion to reducing inflammation. Individuals with specific health concerns, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or food intolerances, may benefit from enzyme supplements. However, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider before using them to determine the appropriate type and dosage.

Summary

Enzymes are the unsung heroes of human health, driving essential processes that keep us alive and well. From digestion to energy production, detoxification, and immune support, enzymes are the biological catalysts that enable life to flourish. Understanding their pivotal role empowers individuals to make informed choices about nutrition, supplementation, and overall health.

In this blog post, we'll explore the essential vitamins B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6 (pyridoxine) and their profound positive effects on various aspects of human health.

Vitamin B5: Pantothenic Acid

Cellular Energy Production

Vitamin B5 is an integral part of coenzyme A (CoA), a molecule that plays a central role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It helps convert the food we eat into usable energy, providing us with the vitality needed for everyday activities.

Skin Health

Pantothenic acid is vital for skin health. It supports the production of skin cells, aiding in their regeneration and maintaining skin's moisture levels. Some skin creams contain vitamin B5 to help soothe and hydrate the skin.

Cholesterol and Fatty Acid Synthesis

B5 is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, which are essential for cellular structure and function. It also contributes to the synthesis of cholesterol, which is needed for the production of hormones and the maintenance of cell membranes.

Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine

Brain Health

Vitamin B6 is crucial for brain health. It is involved in the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which regulate mood, sleep, and cognitive function. Adequate B6 levels can contribute to better mental well-being.

Heart Health

B6 plays a role in maintaining heart health by assisting in the removal of homocysteine, an amino acid that, when elevated, is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Lowering homocysteine levels is crucial for cardiovascular well-being.

Immune Function

Vitamin B6 supports a robust immune system by participating in the production of immune cells and antibodies. It helps the body fight off infections and diseases.

Haemoglobin Production

B6 is necessary for the formation of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. Adequate levels of B6 are essential for preventing anaemia and maintaining energy levels.

Supplementing B5 and B6

While both vitamins B5 and B6 are found in a variety of foods, including meats, dairy, whole grains, and legumes, some individuals may require supplements, especially if they have dietary restrictions or specific health concerns. It's advisable to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplementation to determine individual needs and ensure proper dosages.

Summary

Vitamins B5 and B6, often overlooked in favour of their more famous counterparts, are unsung heroes of human health. From energy production and skin health to brain function, heart health, and immune support, these vitamins are indispensable for our overall well-being. By recognizing their vital roles and ensuring adequate intake, we can harness the positive effects of vitamins B5 and B6 to lead healthier, more vibrant lives.

If you have any concerns about your health and well being, why not BOOK a consultation with Claudia, your Biomed Health Care Professional?

BioMed offers a wide range of healthcare, including Bioresonance Testing and Quantum Analysis (computerised screening). This type of screening can highlight any vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies or imbalances in your body’s systems. Using the report produced by the data, Claudia can then create an individually designed health care plan, personal to you.

If it is found that you are deficient in B5, B6 or other vitamins and minerals, they fastest way to restore them to normal levels is through IV- THERAPY

If you think IV Therapy may be just what you need, or for any other health matters,

please contact Claudia or book a consultation NOW

It is made of three types of molecules known as amino acids. Amino acids combine in different patterns to make all of the proteins in the body.

Glutathione has many important functions, including:

• making DNA, the building blocks of proteins and cells

• supporting immune function

• forming sperm cells

• regenerating vitamins C and E

• transporting mercury out of the brain

• helping the liver and gallbladder deal with fats

• assisting regular cell death (a process known as apoptosis)

• reducing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• breaking down some free radicals

• helping certain enzymes function

Our body naturally makes Glutathione from three amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and glutamate. When making enzymes or proteins, cells use up most of your available cysteine supplies. The remaining glutamate and glycine combine with B vitamins and selenium to produce glutathione.

Does glutathione increase hair growth?

Glutathione offers remarkable benefits for hair growth and overall hair health. By protecting the hair follicles, improving blood circulation to the scalp, and promoting detoxification, glutathione enhances hair growth, strength, and resilience.

What are the symptoms of glutathione deficiency?

There are a number of reasons why your body’s glutathione level may become depleted, including poor diet, chronic disease, infection and constant stress.

If your body is deficient in glutathione, it can be difficult to determine. Symptoms of glutathione deficiency are subtle and often mistaken for other conditions. Any signs or concerns must be addressed, so they don’t become more significant problems in the future.

The signs and symptoms of the deficiency may include anaemia, the build up of too much acid in the body (metabolic acidosis), frequent infections, chronic fatigue, allergies, difficulty managing weight, symptoms caused by problems in the brain including seizures, intellectual disability, and loss of coordination (ataxia).

Glutathione rich foods

Maintaining adequate levels of this antioxidant is incredibly important. Evidence suggests that eating foods rich in glutathione plays a significant factor in maintaining healthy levels.

Foods rich in glutathione include:

• Grapefruit

• Broccoli

• Papaya

• Pineapples

• Cauliflower

• Corn

• Cabbage

• Green peppers

• Watercress

Supplements

Low levels of glutathione can be improved by taking glutathione supplements. In more severe levels of deficiency, glutathione treatments will focus on administering glutathione directly into the bloodstream through an IV Infusion.

What are the benefits of taking glutathione supplements?

• reduces oxidative stress

• improves insulin resistance in older people

• increases mobility for people with peripheral artery disease

• reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• may help fight autoimmune diseases

• may reduce oxidative damage in children with autism

• may reduce the impact of uncontrolled diabetes

• may reduce respiratory disease symptoms

• may improve psoriasis

How Biomed can help

If you have any concerns about your general health why not BOOK a consultation with Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional?

Claudia works on the principle that the body is a series of systems which need to work in harmony for optimum health. To discover any imbalances in the body’s systems, or vitamin, mineral or amino acid deficiencies (for example glutathione), Claudia offers computerised screening.

Combined with an in depth assessment of your general health, this enables an individual treatment plan to be created, which may include Bioregulatory medicines, IV therapy and supplements.

ranging from energy production to brain health. In this blog post, we'll explore the numerous ways in which the B vitamins positively affect human health.

The B Vitamin Ensemble

The B vitamin complex includes eight distinct members: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin). Each vitamin has unique roles but collectively contribute to overall well-being.

Energy Metabolism

B vitamins are central players in the body's energy production processes. They help convert the food we eat into usable energy (ATP) by acting as coenzymes in various metabolic reactions. A deficiency in B vitamins can lead to fatigue and reduced energy levels.

Brain Health and Mood Regulation

Several B vitamins play crucial roles in brain function and mental well-being. B1, B6, B9, and B12, for example, are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood. Deficiencies in these vitamins can contribute to mood disorders, such as depression.

Heart Health

B vitamins, especially B6, B9, and B12, help manage homocysteine levels. High homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Adequate B vitamin intake can lower homocysteine levels, reducing this risk.

Skin, Hair, and Nails

Biotin (B7) is known for its role in maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails. It supports the production of keratin, a protein vital for these structures. Biotin supplements are often recommended for individuals with brittle nails or hair loss.

Prenatal Health

Folate (B9) is crucial during pregnancy, as it helps prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Pregnant women are often advised to take folic acid supplements to ensure adequate folate intake.

Immune System Support

B vitamins, particularly B6, B9, and B12, play essential roles in immune system function. They are involved in the production and maturation of immune cells and the synthesis of antibodies, helping the body defend against infections.

Digestive Health

Pantothenic acid (B5) aids in digestive health by contributing to the production of digestive enzymes and promoting a healthy gut. It also participates in the synthesis of fatty acids, which are essential for overall health.

Food Sources and Supplements

While B vitamins are found in a variety of foods like meat, dairy, and leafy greens, some individuals may benefit from supplements, especially if they have dietary restrictions or absorption issues. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen to determine individual needs.

Summary

The B vitamin complex is a remarkable group of nutrients that impact nearly every aspect of human health. From energy metabolism to brain function, heart health, and beyond, these vitamins are essential for overall well-being. Ensuring an adequate intake through a balanced diet or supplements when necessary can help optimize health and vitality. Understanding the science behind B vitamins empowers us to make informed choices that positively affect our health and quality of life.

How BioMed can help

Initially, Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, and Registered Nurse, will carry out an in depth health assessment allowing her to create an individually designed health care plan, which may include IV Therapy. (For more information about IV Therapy please click on link below)

IV Therapy

IV Therapy is a treatment that involves administering a solution of vitamins, trace minerals, and hydration-supporting fluids through an IV.

The benefits of IV Therapy include effectively increasing your body’s intake of crucial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. It does this by directly introducing these essential supplements into your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. By bypassing the digestive tract, the body can absorb 100% of the nutrients, unlike oral supplements which only offer about 20% absorption due to the digestive process.

Intravenous supplements are very safe, beneficial, easy to receive, and highly effective.

BioMed offers several types of IV Therapy, tailored to your individual needs and existing health conditions.

WHY NOT BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW?

Amino acids, often referred to as the "building blocks of life," are integral to the structure and function of every cell in the human body.

Amino acids are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulphur. There are 20 standard amino acids, each with a unique structure and function.

In this blog post, we'll explore the vital role of amino acids and their profound positive effects on various aspects of human health.

Protein Synthesis and Tissue Repair

The primary role of amino acids is to build and repair tissues. When combined in specific sequences, amino acids form proteins. These proteins serve as the structural foundation for muscles, organs, skin, hair, and virtually every other part of the body. Amino acids are critical for tissue repair, wound healing, and overall growth.

Energy Metabolism

Amino acids also play a crucial role in energy metabolism. When carbohydrates and fats are insufficient as energy sources, amino acids can be converted into glucose or used directly for energy production. This versatility ensures the body has a consistent source of energy.

Immune System Support

Several amino acids, such as glutamine and arginine, are essential for immune system function. They help produce immune cells and antibodies, enabling the body to defend against infections and diseases. Amino acids contribute to a robust immune response.

Neurotransmitters and Brain Function

Amino acids are the precursors to neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain. For instance, tryptophan is converted into serotonin, which regulates mood and sleep. Balanced amino acid levels are vital for cognitive function, mental well-being, and emotional stability.

Detoxification and Antioxidant Defence

Certain amino acids, including cysteine and glycine, are involved in detoxification processes. They support the liver's ability to neutralize and eliminate toxins and harmful substances. Additionally, some amino acids act as antioxidants, protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Heart Health and Blood Pressure Regulation

Amino acids like arginine play a role in heart health by promoting vasodilation, which relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow, and regulating blood pressure. This can have a significant impact on cardiovascular well-being.

Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids are categorized as essential or non-essential. Essential amino acids must be obtained through the diet since the body cannot produce them. Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized within the body.

Which foods are high in amino acids?

Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. These foods include beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, soy, quinoa and buckwheat. Foods that contain some but not all the essential amino acids are called incomplete proteins. These foods include nuts, seeds, beans and some grains.

8 Signs of Amino Acid Deficiency

• Fatigue

• Memory loss

• Muscle loss

• Craving unhealthy foods

• Oversleeping

• Increased anxiety and depression

• Difficulty concentrating

• Digestive disturbances

• Slowed healing time

Summary

Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks that sustain human life and vitality. From protein synthesis and tissue repair to energy metabolism, immune support, and neurotransmitter production, these molecules are indispensable for overall health. By understanding their roles and ensuring an adequate intake through a balanced diet, individuals can harness the positive effects of amino acids to promote a healthier and more vibrant life.

How Biomed can help

If you are experiencing some of the symptoms described in this article, or have any other concerns about your health and well being, why not BOOK a consultation with Claudia, your Biomed Health Care Professional?

Claudia offers a wide range of healthcare, including Bioresonance Testing and Quantum Analysis (computerised screening). This type of screening can highlight any deficiencies or imbalances in your body’s systems. Using the report produced by the data, Claudia can then create an individually designed health care plan, personal to you.

Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores and releases bile.                    

Bile is the fluid your liver produces that helps digest fats in the food you eat.

Where is the gallbladder located?                                                                           

Your gallbladder is located in the upper right part of your abdomen (belly). It sits just under your liver.

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Your gallbladder is part of your digestive system. Its main function is to store bile. Bile helps your digestive system break down fats. Bile is a mixture of mainly cholesterol, bilirubin and bile salts.

How does the gallbladder help other organs?

Your gallbladder is connected to other parts of your digestive system through a series of bile ducts called the biliary tract. The biliary tract (sometimes called biliary system or biliary tree) is a pipe-like system that carries bile from your liver to your small intestine.

What does the gallbladder do?

Before you start eating, your gallbladder is full of bile. When you start eating, your gallbladder receives signals to contract and squeeze the stored bile through the biliary tract. The bile eventually finds its way to your largest bile duct, the common bile duct. Bile passes through the common bile duct into the duodenum, the first part of your small intestine, where it mixes with food waiting to be digested. After you eat, your gallbladder is empty and resembles a deflated balloon, waiting to be filled up again.

What are common issues that affect the gallbladder?

Gallbladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder.

Gallbladder issues include:

Gallstones: The most common condition. Gallstones are typically harmless but can sometimes lead to inflammation and infection. Gallstones are pebble-like objects made of bile material that develop in the gallbladder or bile ducts. There are several reasons why gallstones may form:

• Your liver may secrete more bile than it can dissolve.

• Your body may have excess pigment called bilirubin, which cannot be dissolved.

• The gallbladder might not empty completely or as frequently as it needs to.

Gallstones can be as tiny as grains of sand to as large as golf balls. They’re usually harmless but can cause pain, nausea or inflammation.

Cholecystitis: Cholecystitis is inflammation of your gallbladder. It can occur when a gallstone blocks bile from exiting your gallbladder. Cholecystitis causes fever and pain and usually requires surgery.

Gallstone pancreatitis: Gallstone pancreatitis is inflammation of your pancreas. It occurs when a gallstone travels down the common bile duct and blocks the pancreatic duct at a common point just before draining into the small intestine.

Gallbladder cancer: Gallbladder cancer is rare. You might feel pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. But, it is far more likely for this pain to occur due to another condition.

What are the signs or symptoms of gallbladder problems?

The symptoms of gallbladder problems vary. Some people don’t feel gallstones or even know they have them. But if gallstones block the flow of bile, they can affect your gallbladder or pancreas.

The mildest and most common symptom of gallbladder disease is intermittent pain called biliary colic.

Typically, a person experiences a steady gripping or gnawing pain in the upper right abdomen near the rib cage, which can be severe and can radiate to the upper back. Some patients with biliary colic experience the pain behind the breastbone. Nausea or vomiting may occur.

Between 1 percent and 3 percent of people with symptomatic gallstones develop inflammation in the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis), which occurs when stones or sludge block the duct. The symptoms are similar to those of biliary colic but are more persistent and severe. They include pain in the upper right abdomen that is severe and constant and may last for days. Pain frequently increases when drawing a breath. About a third of patients have fever and chills. Nausea and vomiting may occur.

Chronic gallbladder disease involves gallstones and mild inflammation. In such cases, the gallbladder may become scarred and stiff. Symptoms of chronic gallbladder disease include complaints of gas, nausea and abdominal discomfort after meals and chronic diarrhoea.

Stones lodged in the common bile duct can cause symptoms that are similar to those produced by stones that lodge in the gallbladder, but they may also cause:

• Jaundice

• Dark urine, lighter stools or both

• Rapid heartbeat and abrupt blood pressure drop

• Fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, with severe pain in the upper right abdomen

How are gallbladder issues treated?

Most cases of gallstones clear up without surgery. Some stones are tiny and would not cause long-term discomfort. It is possible to clear gallstones with medication or non-surgical treatments. Large stones, infections, or those that cause severe, chronic pain may require surgery.

If surgery is required to remove the gallbladder this is usually performed laparoscopically (through small incisions).

You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still produce bile to digest food, but the bile will just drip continuously into the small intestine, rather than build up in the gallbladder.

Treating gallstones without surgery

Cleanse/flush

If you would prefer to treat your symptoms more naturally, some people have found that a gallbladder cleanse or flush can help break up the gallstones and clear the gallbladder.

The flush involves consuming a combination of apple juice or sour cherry juice, olive oil and Epsom salts, in a very controlled way, over several days.

The Liver and Gallbladder Flush Link to article has been shown to be effective in clearing gallstones and is well worth considering.

Acupuncture

Studies have shown that acupuncture may help relieve some of the pain from gallstones by reducing spasms, easing bile flow, and restoring proper function.

One small study was done to look at the effects of acupuncture on cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) in 60 participants. Acupuncture was found to relieve symptoms and reduce the volume of the gallbladder.

The prostate gland, part of the male reproductive system, is an internal gland that is situated at the base of the bladder between the bladder and the pelvis. 

The primary function of the prostate is secretion formation. It is also involved in sperm formation, hormone metabolism, (testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone), and ejaculation.

It also keeps the sperm healthy for successful fertilisation.

The gland is about the size of a walnut but gets bigger as men get older.

The male reproductive system

The male reproductive system includes the penis, the testes and the epididymides held within the scrotum, the vas deferens and internally the seminal vesicles, and the prostate gland.

The urethra is a tube that runs from the bladder through the prostate gland and the middle of the penis, to carry urine out of the body. The testes produce sperm and the hormone testosterone.

At the back of each testis is the epididymis. A tube where sperm is stored. When the penis is erect sperm moves from the epididymis and through the vas deferens to the urethra.

The seminal vesicles make a fluid that mixes with sperm in the urethra. The prostate gland surrounds the first part of the urethra and adds more fluid to the sperm. During orgasm the prostate squeezes this fluid into the urethra and out of the body.

2 Types of prostate problems

Enlarged prostate        

Many men suffer from prostate problems. An enlarged prostate is very common in men over 50 – nearly all men in their 70s are thought to have some symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Irritation and abnormal urination are the most common prostate problems. Symptoms of irritation often manifest through frequent urge to urinate, pain when urinating and a disturbing feeling of residual urine. It is not uncommon for those affected to have the feeling that they must go to the toilet up to 7 times during the night.

Symptoms          

Weak urine flow and difficulty urinating are the most common symptoms. An enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and causes a strong urge to urinate. In most cases, the change is benign prostate enlargement that is related to the change in hormonal balance.

The prostate gland produces a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA). A blood test can measure the level of PSA. By scanning and determining the PSA value, doctors can usually diagnose any problem quickly.

Prostate problems usually get worse with age so early detection and treatment should be the focus.

There are many advantages to a healthy prostate. Men with a constant urge to urinate suffer from a lack of confidence both at work and at home. The persistent need to urinate makes travel and leisure activities torture. It can also lead to erectile dysfunction which can have significant negative effects on intimate relationships.

Inflammation of the prostate gland (Prostatitis)

Prostatitis is a disorder of the prostate gland usually associated with inflammation. Prostatitis often causes painful or difficult urination, as well as pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals. Bacterial infections cause some but not all cases of prostatitis.

Types

There are generally four types of prostatitis:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis, a bacterial infection of the prostate usually with sudden, severe symptoms - is usually caused by common strains of bacteria. The infection may have spread from other parts of the urinary or reproductive systems.

• Chronic bacterial prostatitis, ongoing or recurring bacterial infection usually with less severe symptoms - generally has the same cause as acute bacterial infection. It may occur when treatment for an acute infection isn't long enough or fails to kill all the bacteria.

• Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, ongoing or recurring pelvic pain and urinary tract symptoms with no evidence of infection – this condition is not well understood. Research suggests that multiple factors may collectively play a role. These include previous infection, nervous system dysfunction, immune system dysfunction, psychological stress or irregular hormone activity.

• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, signs of an inflamed prostate with no symptoms - has no known cause, is generally found only during an exam for other medical conditions and is not treated.

Risk factors

Risk factors for prostatitis include:

• Young or middle-aged adulthood

• Previous prostatitis

• Infection of the urinary or reproductive system

• HIV infection or AIDS

• Use of a tube inserted into the urethra to drain the bladder (urinary catheter)

• Diagnostic sampling of prostate tissue (biopsy)

Additional risk factors for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome may include:

• Psychological stress

• Nerve damage in the pelvic region due to surgery or trauma

Complications

Complications of acute or chronic prostatitis can include:

• Bacterial infection of the blood (bacteremia)

• Inflammation of the coiled tube attached to the back of the testicle (epididymitis)

• Pus-filled cavity in the prostate (prostatic abscess)

• Infection that spreads to the upper pelvic bone or lower spine

Complications of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome may include:

• Anxiety or depression

• Sexual dysfunction, such as the inability to get and maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)

• Changes in sperm and semen that may cause infertility

There's no direct evidence that prostatitis can lead to prostate cancer. Researchers are investigating whether chronic inflammation of the prostate is a risk factor for cancer.

Oral contraceptives are among the most commonly used and highly effective drugs in the developed world. Research has highlighted however that the widespread use of oral contraceptives may be significantly affecting bodily levels of many essential vitamins and minerals.

Read on to find out more about 5 essential nutrients commonly depleted by the pill (what’s worrying is there are many more):

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Folic acid
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin E

Magnesium

Oestrogen therapy, including the use of oral contraceptives, lowers serum magnesium levels and can cause deficiency of this vital mineral. And this is of particular concern for the majority of people who already have low dietary magnesium intake coupled with 21^st century lifestyle factors that can quickly use up magnesium stores. These include poor sleep, high intensity exercise, chronic stress and high intake of caffeine, sugar and processed foods.

Magnesium has become a hot topic in recent years, with research linking this versatile mineral to energy, sleep, mood, hormone balance, muscle relaxation and much more. Given the body’s widespread needs for magnesium, the typically low dietary intakes and the constant drain on the body’s stores, it is particularly concerning that one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the developed world may be depleting levels even further.

And what’s even more alarming is that when magnesium depletion occurs, it alters the calcium: magnesium ratio which can affect blood coagulation. It is likely then that magnesium deficiency may contribute to the thromboembolic complications associated with oestrogen. On the basis of current research, it seems reasonable to recommend therefore that women taking oral contraceptives should supplement their diets with additional magnesium.

Zinc

The zinc status of women using oral contraceptives has been of concern since 1968, when it was observed that they had lower plasma zinc levels than those not using this form of contraception. And several studies done during the following decades have confirmed this finding.

Zinc is an essential trace element, used as a cofactor for more than 300 different enzymes, and as such it is used in every cell, organ, bone, tissue, and fluid in our bodies. Zinc is involved in immune and skin health, reproduction, energy, eyesight and much more. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global prevalence of zinc deficiency is around 31%.

The changes that happen as a result of increased oestrogen via oral contraceptive use may reduce the amount of zinc carried in the blood and also increase the amount of zinc used by bodily tissues. When these changes occur, dietary zinc needs would be greater in women using oral contraceptives.

Whilst not all studies report decreased zinc levels, the majority indicate that oral contraceptives - even low dose versions - do negatively affect the nutritional status of this mineral. In addition, a recent systematic review found a decrease in zinc, selenium, phosphorus and magnesium in women taking oral contraceptives. These reductions were also linked to the duration of contraceptive use. Supplementation with zinc, may therefore be a useful support for women taking oral contraceptives. Zinc is best supplemented with copper as these two minerals are antagonists which mean they compete for binding sites in the body. Excess zinc can lead to a copper deficiency and vice versa.

Folic Acid

Shortly after the introduction of oral contraceptives, studies appeared to suggest their consumption might reduce blood folate levels. The hormonal content of oral contraceptives was however much higher in the 1960s and 1970s when these initial studies were carried out, which has raised the question of how relevant these results still are today? A more recent systematic review and meta-analysis answered this question and concluded, “Because of the reduction in blood folate concentrations associated with the use of oral contraceptives, it is critical for women of childbearing age to continue folate supplementation during oral contraceptive use”.

Folic acid is particularly important during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). In recognition of the importance of folic acid for women during reproductive years and the potential folate-depleting effects of oral contraceptives, an oral contraceptive fortified with folate was made available in 2012 in some markets to help reduce the risk of NTDs in a pregnancy conceived during use or shortly after the discontinuation of oral contraceptive products.

There is also some evidence that oral contraceptives can increase the rate of progression of cervical dysplasia to cervical cancer, and that folic acid can slow or reverse this dysplasia.

Current research supports the recommendation that all women of child bearing age taking oral contraceptives should also take daily folic acid supplements. Folic acid is best supplemented in the body-ready form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). This is because some people are genetically less able to convert folic acid into this active form, making supplementation less effective. Providing the body-ready, active 5-MTHF form of folic acid bypasses the need for conversion and provides reassurance that your folate stores are being topped up.

Vitamin B12

Several studies have found low levels of vitamin B12 in women using oral contraceptives, compared to non-users. There is a close relationship between folate and vitamin B12 metabolism in the body, however it is still not well understood how oral contraceptives may cause low vitamin B12. As with low folate levels, low maternal B12 status is also considered to be an independent risk factor for neural tube defects (NTDs).

In addition to its protective role in pregnancy, vitamin B12 is involved in over 100 daily functions; it helps the blood to carry oxygen and is essential for healthy nerves, DNA synthesis and to help eliminate toxins. It is found in rich supply in animal products and is the only vitamin that can’t be reliably supplied by a varied wholefood plant-based diet and regular exposure to the sun.

A recent systematic review found that oral contraceptives deplete vitamin B12 and supports the view that vitamin supplements may be helpful in women taking oral contraceptives.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is well known for its diverse effects on health – as an antioxidant, for skin health, immune function and to protect your heart too.

Research has shown that oral contraceptives increase markers of oxidative stress and decrease blood levels of vitamin E. Additional research found a significant increase in the clotting activity of blood platelets in women taking oral contraceptives, and this is naturally associated with a decrease in blood levels of vitamin. The researchers found that vitamin E supplementation increased blood levels of vitamin E and decreased the clotting activity of platelets. They concluded that the negative effects of oral contraceptives on clotting may be dependent on low vitamin E which can be corrected with vitamin E supplements.

Many people are unaware that vitamin E isn’t just a single nutrient but rather appears in nature as a collection of different forms (alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherol). Vitamin E is therefore best supplemented in the form of mixed tocopherols to best reflect this natural balance and optimally support your body’s needs.

Daily supplementation may help to support improved levels of key nutrients
Research has shown that oral contraceptives can deplete blood levels of many essential vitamins & minerals and here we have highlighted just a few; there are many, many more. It seems reasonable to recommend therefore, on the back of this collective evidence, that women taking oral contraceptives may benefit from supplementing their diets with a daily  Multivitamin & Mineral to help to counter these possible negative effects. Selecting a high quality daily multivitamin & mineral supplement that provides nutrients in body ready, active forms therefore seems a worthwhile investment in both immediate and long term health.

How BioMed can help

Claudia Carrillo, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, is happy to recommend Nutri Advanced as a reliable and trustworthy

supplier for all your supplement needs. The company is a family owned and run business set up in 1981 by a progressive leading

Naturopath. At the heart of the business is their passionate mission to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

It is underpinned by 3 things:

• superior quality of products
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The best way to experience the full range of benefits would be to shop directly and place your orders on their website.

To do this - register as my patient and enter my account number when prompted. Account name - Claudia Carrillo - Account No 3067651.

You will then automatically receive 10% discount on all your orders. Please follow the link

For years, a pervasive theory has existed that eating a low-acid, high-alkaline diet can help fight and prevent cancer. The premise? Cancer cells thrive in acidity (low pH), but not in alkalinity (high pH), so a diet high in alkaline foods like fruits and vegetables that also limits acidic foods, such as those from animal products, will raise blood pH levels and create an environment in the body that discourages cancer growth.

“I have litmus strips to check my saliva because someone told me that my body is too acidic.”

“I am avoiding citrus fruits, tomatoes, and acidic foods because cancer thrives in an acidic environment.”

These comments seem very logical and believable; however the concept that the body is too acidic, and one needs to make the body more alkaline in order to “starve” cancerous cells is only a myth. The information below will discuss how this myth got started, what we know today, and identify what you can do to incorporate cancer-fighting foods within your routine.

The History

Back in the late 1870’s a scientist named Marcellin Berthelot used the Bomb Calorimeter to study the amount of heat produced or absorbed during chemical reactions. This machine consisted of a cylinder-shaped chamber, pressurized oxygen, and a small amount of water. Berthelot would take various food substances (i.e., fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.) and incinerate them within this device which turned the item into an ash-type substance. When this ash was mixed with water, Berthelot was able to check the pH of each item. What he discovered was that items with a higher pH (more alkaline) were plant-based items such fruits and vegetables, while those with a lower pH (more acidic) were meats.

Then, in the early 1900s, the Nobel-prize winning Dr. Otto Warburg, suggested that cancer cells “live in hypoxic, very low oxygen, and acidic conditions and derive energy from sugars by fermenting them the way yeast does. From this, he theorized that these low-oxygen and highly-acidic conditions caused cancer.

Given these findings, it is easy to see where the acid-alkaline idea came from, BUT one must remember that science has dramatically advanced since these times. While both gentlemen provided cutting-edge research for their time, we know a lot more today about cancer, metabolism of food, and diet. So what do we know now?

Today’s Science

In order for a cancer cell to grow, it relies on growth of blood vessels in efforts to provide enough oxygen to metabolize energy. However, the pace of cancer cell growth and division is quicker than the production of oxygen-supplying blood vessels. This results in the inefficient metabolism of its energy supply, and ultimately, lactic acid is produced, through a metabolic process called the Cori cycle.

Because the cancer cell is producing lactic acid, does not mean that the whole body becomes acidic.

Normal blood pH range is between 7.35 and 7.45 for most people, and given the tight regulation of blood pH level by the lungs and kidneys, what you eat — or don’t eat — has little effect on it.

PH levels in urine can be affected by dietary factors, but the two systems are completely separate. Keep in mind that an increase in acid or alkaline in the urine reflects the fact that the kidney is doing its job. A change in urine status does not indicate a change in overall body pH.

It is also impossible to significantly alter one’s blood pH with the food you eat. Therefore, checking your saliva for acidity or alkalinity is not an accurate measure of your body’s actual pH balance.

Science reasons it is not the body that is too acidic and gives cancer cells a medium to grow and divide. Rather, it’s the opposite. Cancer cells produce acid, but that does not make the entire body more acidic.

Diet

The theory of the low-acid, high-alkaline diet as a cancer preventer or fighter persists because diet is something we can control. High alkaline foods are good, not because you’re changing the pH of your blood, but because they’re promoting good bacteria in your gut.

Whether a food is considered “acidic” or “alkaline” depends on its pH value (measured on a 14-point scale). A pH of seven is considered neutral, with foods below seven considered more acidic and foods above seven considered more alkaline.

Alkaline foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and root vegetables are all broken down into short-chain fatty acids that contain prebiotic nutrients that nourish good bacteria in your gut. These good bacteria help decrease inflammation throughout your body that might otherwise contribute to cancer, while foods such as refined sugar and flour, as well as too much saturated animal fat, create an acidic environment in your gut because they’re difficult to digest.

Is acidity a symptom of colon cancer?

The early warning signs of bowel cancer can be very subtle, and many people may not be aware that they're at risk. One of the most common early symptoms of bowel cancer is persistent heartburn or stomach ache. However, it is perfectly normal to occasionally develop indigestion or heartburn after a big meal.

Conclusion

While the purported link between diet and blood pH is not grounded in sound science, there’s plenty of good that can be drawn from this way of eating when it comes to preventing and fighting cancer.

Fortunately, the same foods that Berthelot found to be alkaline back in the 1800s are many of the same foods that are recommended today for their cancer-fighting properties. These plant-based foods protect cells from damage, encourage normal cell growth, and other processes which help fight cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Conversely, high-intakes of acidic foods such as meat and animal-based proteins, have been linked to inflammation, insulin insensitivity, and increased cell division.

So, the myth of the need to make the body more alkaline does not have significant value in respect to cancer cell growth or development.

However, evidence suggests that incorporating more alkaline-type foods is to be recommended. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a plant-based diet which aims at receiving at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, using whole grains versus refined grains, incorporating beans/legumes more often and meat less often.

Incorporating these dietary habits will limit your intake of acidic foods, increase your intake of alkaline foods, and provide your body with the cancer-fighting nutrients it craves.

Other areas of your body contain different levels of acidity, with your stomach being more acidic in order to breakdown any food you consume.

Summary

So whilst you might stick to a strict alkaline diet, the pay-off may not be what you expect. The diet does encourage an individual to eat healthily, owing to the emphasis on fruit and vegetables and avoidance of processed foods, so it does help with weight loss. However, it doesn’t have strong influence over the pH balance of your body.

Black cohosh (scientifically known as actaea racemosa or cimicifuga racemosa) is a flowering perennial plant with fragrant white blooms on a stem, forming a spike-like structure of up to 5 feet tall. A member of the buttercup family, it grows in the woodlands of the eastern United States and Canada.

Black cohosh has a long history of use. The flowers and roots were used extensively by native North American tribes for a variety of disorders, including sore throat infections, bronchitis, rheumatism, musculoskeletal pain, fever, cough, pneumonia and menstrual irregularities.

Black cohosh can be a safe and effective way for women to find natural relief from their menopause symptoms, having a number of potential benefits.

What is the Menopause?

Technically ‘Menopause’ is the word to describe what happens to women’s bodies when they stop having periods– usually by the ages of 45-55. But, the word menopause is commonly used to describe the period of time leading up to the menopause, for which the proper term is perimenopause. Oestrogen and progesterone start to act differently during this process, rising and falling in an erratic way and causing often uncomfortable symptoms for women while they do so.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms vary with each individual but in the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), you might experience some of these signs and symptoms:

• Irregular periods

• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flushes

• Chills

• Night sweats

• Sleep problems

• Mood changes

• Weight gain and slowed metabolism

• Thinning hair and dry skin

• Tinnitus

• Irritability

• Vertigo

• Heart palpitations

The benefits of black cohosh

Black cohosh is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal system and against bone deterioration. However, today, alleviating menopause symptoms is the reason most people use black cohosh, the efficacy of which is supported by compelling evidence. It functions as a phytoestrogen, a plant-based compound that mimics the action of the hormone oestrogen.

Black cohosh also contains a number of other biologically active components such as triterpene glycosides (sugar compounds), isoferulic acids (substances with anti-inflammatory effects) Studies show that it reacts with your body’s opioid receptors, giving it a painkilling effect.

Available Forms

Preparations of black cohosh are made from its roots and rhizomes (underground stems). Available as dietary supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, liquid tincture, and extracts that can be mixed in water, and dried root for a tea.

Dosage recommendations vary widely between black cohosh brands. Typical doses are anywhere from 20–120 mg of standardised black cohosh extract or powder daily.

For menopausal symptoms, taking 20-40 milligram tablets of a standardised extract taken twice a day appears to be most effective.

Interactions

Black cohosh has the potential to interact with other medications and therapies. Here are its known interactions:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Black cohosh may have some effects on your hormone levels, particularly your oestrogen levels, which can have unexpected effects when paired with HRT.

Birth control pills. Most birth control pills are made of oestrogen and/or progesterone, so black cohosh, which may affect your hormone levels, may interfere with hormonal birth control.

A consultation with Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, can help you in determining what might be best for YOUR specific individual needs.    BOOK NOW

Elevated oestrogen, in comparison to its protective counterpart progesterone, can create symptoms from heavy, painful periods to weight gain and fluid retention.

Having excess oestrogen long term can contribute to conditions such as fibroids and exacerbate endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts.

Working towards a healthier balance of oestrogen is important for both long term hormonal health and overall wellbeing.

This article discusses the main signs and symptoms of oestrogen excess, what causes it, as well as the dietary changes you can implement today to start your path to healthier hormonal balance.

What Are The Symptoms of Oestrogen Excess?

Common symptoms of oestrogen excess may include the following:

• Breast tenderness

• Fibrocystic lumps in your breasts

• PMS

• Heavy periods

• Fibroids

• Endometriosis

• Acne

• Weight Gain

• Fluid retention

What Increases Oestrogen?

In order for your body to process oestrogen it requires a two step detoxification process through your digestive system and liver?

Your liver requires several minerals, vitamins and protein to help bind to oestrogen and excrete it through the digestive system.

As your digestive system is a key organ for oestrogen elimination, it’s also important that you pay attention to the health of your microbiome which encompasses thousands of bacterial species. An unhealthy microbiome can allow dysbiotic (bad) bacteria to thrive, displacing beneficial bacteria and creating symptoms of poor digestive health.

If you experience signs of poor gut health such as constipation, loose bowel motions, bloating or gas it could be contributing to your oestrogen excess.

Factors That Increase Oestrogen

Other factors that can contribute to oestrogen excess include:

• Lack of fibre in the diet to bind to oestrogen and remove it through the bowel

• Alcohol excess: just one drink per day can increase blood levels of oestrogen

• Mineral deficiencies: of zinc, selenium, iodine and magnesium

• Vitamin deficiencies: of folate, B6, and B12

• Under-functioning thyroid: by slowing down oestrogen metabolism

• Bacterial overgrowth in the digestive system impairs oestrogen metabolism by making beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that reactivates oestrogen

• Endocrine disrupting chemicals: pesticides, plasticisers (BPA), heavy metal toxicity which impair detoxification or oestrogen

Five Steps To Reduce Oestrogen Excess

1. Eat Phytoestrogen Rich Foods

Phytoestrogens found in soy and legumes provide a weaker form of oestrogen that down regulates your total oestrogen load. They do this by binding to your oestrogen receptor and preventing estradiol, a more potent oestrogen produced primarily by your ovaries from binding to the oestrogen receptor. By doing this it reduces the negative side effects associated with excess estradiol.

When eating soy, ensure you are consuming a non-genetically modified (non-GMO) soy and that it is derived from the whole soy bean such as tempeh.

Other legumes that contain phytoestrogens include chickpeas and mung beans.

2. Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

As little as one alcoholic drink per day can increase your oestrogen levels, and unfortunately no type of alcohol is better than the other. This is also the reason for why regular alcohol consumption can increase the risk of breast cancer.

3. Eat Magnesium Rich Foods or Supplement

Magnesium is an essential mineral for oestrogen detoxification, it also helps to reduce symptoms associated with oestrogen excess such as period pain. It does this by reducing inflammation and reducing muscular spasms.

Dietary sources of magnesium include: nuts, seeds (sunflower and pumpkin seeds, green leafy vegetables and dark chocolate.

Magnesium supplementation: Not all magnesium supplements are made the same. Aim for a magnesium amino acid chelate, bisglycinate or citrate for better absorption.

4. Eat Cruciferous Vegetables Regularly

Cruciferous vegetables contain indol-3-carbinol, a constituent which supports the metabolism of oestrogen via the liver.

Food sources: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and watercress.

5. Aim for 30 g of fibre per day

Fibre is not only important for digestive health, but also assists oestrogen detoxification through the bowels. Eating a diet rich in plant foods will not only ensure you are receiving adequate amounts of fibre, but it will also provide a plethora of minerals and antioxidants required for liver detoxification.

Food sources high in fibre: lentils, apple and pear with the skins on, pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, broccoli, kiwi fruit, quinoa, flaxseeds, brown rice, walnuts, sunflower seeds, prunes and carrots.

How Can I Find Out If I Have Oestrogen Excess?

If you are experiencing signs of oestrogen excess but are looking for extra support on a treatment strategy to get your hormones back in balance, then consider booking a consultation with Claudia, your Healthcare Professional at BioMed Natural Health.

Through consultation Claudia can help you with a clearer strategy to reduce your oestrogen excess, by incorporating the combination of tailored bioregulatory medicines and nutritional support for your symptom picture and hormonal imbalances.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) also known as the night willow herb, is a flowering plant with a yellow blossom, native to North America but now widely naturalized elsewhere in temperate and subtropical regions. Most flowering plants open with the sunrise, but evening primrose opens its petals in the evening sunset and closes during the day, hence the name.

The oil, Evening Primrose Oil (EPO), that is extracted from the seeds is commonly used as a health supplement, topical treatment, and ingredient in beauty products.

Why is EPO beneficial to health?

Evening primrose oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated Omega-6 essential fatty acids. It contains 2–15% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and 70% linolenic acid (LA), which your body makes into (GLA).

Linoleic Acid

Linoleic Acid is a component of many vegetable oils, which can be converted to GLA. However, many people can have difficulties with the conversion process. Factors inhibiting the conversion include viruses such as cold and flu, stress, alcohol, saturated fats, ageing and lacking certain nutrients in the diet.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)

GLA, important for maintaining a joint’s cell structure and function, provides the building blocks for the manufacture of certain hormone like substances called prostaglandins. These can have beneficial regulatory effects on the immune system, circulation and the menstrual cycle.

GLA might also suppress inflammatory responses by directly acting on some inflammatory cells

What does evening primrose oil do to female hormones?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Evening Primrose Oil is one of the richest sources of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that provides the building blocks for female hormones. It plays a key role in female metabolism by maintaining hormonal balance, healthy skin and supple joints.

Many women find that Evening Primrose Oil supplements taken before and during menstruation, as well as during the menopause, can be of benefit in helping to alleviate the associated negative symptoms of PMS. Studies suggest that the symptoms which improve the most are breast tenderness and feelings of depression, as well as irritability, swelling, and bloating from fluid retention.

Menopause

Evening primrose oil has long been used to treat hot flushes during the transition to menopause. These sudden feelings of extreme warmth in the upper body are a form of flushing caused by hormonal changes that may be due to reduced levels of the hormone estradiol.

A recent study published in the Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics found that a daily, 500-milligram (mg) dose of evening primrose oil provided significant relief of hot flushes after six weeks.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune disease, meaning one in which the immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. With RA, the body primarily attacks its own joints.

Some studies have suggested that GLA can reduce pain and improve function in people with mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis. A 2011 review of studies from Australia concluded that GLA found in evening primrose, borage seed, or blackcurrant seed oil provided some relief of pain and disability in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council (UK) acknowledge that Evening Primrose Oil and fish oil may be helpful, when incorporated as part of a healthy diet.

Evening Primrose Oil – other benefits

• Helps enhance hair lustre.

• Helps maintain smooth supple skin.

• Those suffering from brittle or split nails have found that EPO strengthens nails.

In addition, research shows that taking evening primrose oil daily for 6-12 months improves symptoms of nerve damage caused by diabetes.

Blood-thinning medications: People taking blood-thinning medications should not take omega-6 fatty acid supplements without consulting a doctor.

Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids may increase the risk of bleeding. These medications include Aspirin , Clopidogrel (Plavix) and Warfarin (Coumadin)

Diabetic Neuropathy

In 1993, evening primrose oil was first proposed as a possible treatment of diabetic neuropathy, an often debilitating type of nerve pain that mainly affects the feet and legs.

A recent study from India involving 80 people with severe diabetic neuropathy looked into the treatment. It concluded that a daily 500- to 1,000-mg dose of evening primrose oil combined with 400 mg of vitamin E achieved pain relief in 88% of the participants.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is bone mineral loss that causes bones to become weak and brittle. This condition especially affects women after menopause.

Recent studies suggest that people who do not get enough essential fatty acids (particularly EPA and GLA) are more likely to have bone loss than those with normal levels of these fatty acids.

It has been shown that taking evening primrose oil with fish oil and calcium can decrease bone loss and increase bone density in elderly people with osteoporosis. An increased intake of unsaturated fat is associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis.

In a study of women over 65 with osteoporosis, those who took EPA and GLA supplements had less bone loss over 3 years than those who took placebo. Many of these women also experienced an increase in bone density.

A word of caution

Always consult your Healthcare Professional before taking EPO.

Evening primrose oil can interact with some medications, such as blood thinners and NSAIDs. It can also be dangerous for those with certain medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders.

It is also not advisable to take EPO if you have oestrogen-dominance or oestrogen related health issues.

What is the Role of Cortisol?

Your mood, energy, thyroid function, immunity and sleep all depend on optimal functioning of the adrenal glands and cortisol.

Cortisol, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. It simply needs to be present in the right amounts at the right times. In other words, there’s a natural, healthy rhythm to its release.

What are adrenal glands?

Your adrenal glands are a pair of crescent-shaped glands that sit on top of each kidney like a cap. Despite their small size (about 2.5 inches x 1 inch), these glands have a big job: secreting chemical messengers that communicate with your brain, immune system, and metabolism.

What is cortisol?

The adrenal glands regulate a lot of things, but one of the most critical is your body’s primary stress hormone: cortisol. The most important thing to remember is that stress hormones are all about survival—and survival ultimately trumps everything else!

What does cortisol do?

Cortisol is the primary adrenal stress hormone. It has many functions, such as:

• Influencing carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.
• Increasing fatty acids in the bloodstream, so they can be used as fuel for energy.
• Counteracting inflammation.
• Maintaining energy, mood, and emotional stability.
• Maintaining resistance to stress.
• Increasing your blood-sugar level to help you cope with an emergency.

In chronic excess, cortisol can lead to metabolic disorders. This is because it can affect how certain tissues use glucose, and may sometimes have an anti-insulin effect. Cortisol can also lead to immunosuppression due to its anti-inflammatory effect.

What are normal cortisol levels?

Cortisol is largely catabolic in nature, meaning it generally breaks things down. However, it’s important to note that we also need a minimum amount of cortisol for certain anabolic or building functions, such as gut repair.

Cortisol, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. It simply needs to be present in the right amounts at the right times. In other words, there’s a natural, healthy rhythm to its release.

Your cortisol level is normally highest in the morning when you first wake up. Over the course of the day, cortisol secretion eases, reaching its lowest point about the time you should be falling asleep.

As your blood-sugar level drops throughout the night, cortisol secretion increases so that come morning, you have the energy to get out of bed and do what you need to do.

The problem is that many people have cortisol that’s either too high or too low. This impairs many body systems and functions, as described above.

Elevated cortisol symptoms

The stress response was designed for times of extreme danger, but the pace of modern life means that we’re using this ancient mechanism all day, every day. Remember, we are essentially cavemen in suits!

Cortisol levels can affect thyroid function, especially in cases of Hashimoto’s. It’s also worth noting that leaky gut can be caused completely or in part by adrenal fatigue.

The good news is that these responses can be ameliorated by adopting healthier dietary and lifestyle habits, along with supporting your body’s systems using Bioregulatory medicine and certain herbs, to nourish the adrenal glands.

True detoxification will address all 3 phases.

What happens in Phase 1?

In the first phase of detoxification, the goal is to transform lipid-based toxins (most toxins are lipid-based) that have accumulated in the cell into water-soluble toxins, using biotransforming enzymes that can catalyse (induce) the oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis of the toxins.

The Cytochrome-P450 enzyme group is largely responsible for this process of transforming the toxins to be more water soluble for excretion and transforming them to be bound with other molecules in phase 2 to make them even more, water-soluble for easier excretion.

Phase 1 is fully dependent on the cytochrome-P450 enzymes, whose speed of metabolism is affected by things like genetics, exercise, and the presence or absence of certain substances/supplements in the diet that can either speed them up (induce them) or slow them down (inhibit them).

After being acted upon by the cytochrome-P450 enzymes, they become free radicals; if not enough phase 2 enzymes act quickly upon them, they can do secondary cellular damage to the body.

Many substances inhibit cytochrome-P450. This can cause substantial problems, as these substances remain in the body longer before detoxification, making them potentially more damaging.

Many medications, including antacids, antihistamines, NSAIDs, and more have the potential to block your liver's Phase 1 / Phase 2 detox pathways.

If Phase 1 and Phase 2 are not in balance, i.e. there aren't enough Phase 2 enzymes to process the products of Phase 1, you run the risk of increasing free radical damage and having your body become MORE toxic. A high-quality detox program that balances and induces the proper enzymes in phases 1 and 2 is helpful. A detox program that only stimulates or supports one detoxification pathway or that ends prematurely can have the opposite effect of detoxification and can bombard your system with unwanted and harmful free radicals.

What natural products induce or enhance the action of Phase 1?

Phase 1 and the Cp-450 enzymes require certain nutrients be present to effectively prepare them for Phase 2. High-quality protein sources are essential, as too little can hinder Cp-450 activity. In addition, the body must have adequate amounts of magnesium, selenium, zinc and B vitamins. Phase 1 produces free radicals that require antioxidants like vitamins E, C, and various carotenoids.

No matter the detox program you choose, if these things are not present in sufficient amounts, you will not experience an optimal detox.

What happens in Phase 2?

Phase 2 is called the conjugation pathway because it takes the products from Phase 1 and binds them with Phase 2 substances (conjugates) to render them less harmful and more water soluble for easier excretion.

Phase 2 conjugates include amino acids, sugars, glutathione (which is stimulated by N-Acetyl-Cystine), methionine, sulfur (found in garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage), and acetyl Co-A.

Phase 2 must be working quickly and efficiently after Phase 1, as there is growing scientific evidence suggesting that certain diseases are the direct result of damage to the body from poor Phase 2 detoxification. Some of the diseases that may be caused by toxic intermediate metabolites and free radicals include cancer, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, lupus, and immune dysfunction.

Phase 2 enzymes work to further enhance solubility and reduce toxicity. Through conjugation, the liver can turn drugs, hormones, and various toxins into water-soluble, excretable substances.

What natural products enhance Phase 2 detoxification?

For efficient Phase 2 detoxification, the liver cells require sulfur-containing amino acids such as taurine and cysteine. The nutrients glycine, glutamine, choline, and inositol are also required for this step.

Eggs and cruciferous vegetables (eg. broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), raw garlic, onions, leeks, and shallots are all useful sources of natural sulfur compounds to enhance Phase 2 detoxification. Thus, these foods can be considered to have a cleansing action.

While it is always best to get what you need from a healthy, varied diet, it isn’t always possible to feed the body enough of these nutrients when considering the optimal amount that the body requires to detoxify (especially if you are experiencing toxic overload). Phase 2 detoxification needs to be fed the proper conjugates (amino acids, nutrients like glycine, glutamine, choline, and inositol) to transform the Phase 1 intermediates into compounds that can be excreted.

This is a common roadblock for many attempting to cleanse or detoxify and a legitimate reason to consider a comprehensive detoxification program from a reputable nutrition company.

What happens in Phase 3?

Phase 3 is commonly referred to as the waste removal and excretion phase. During Phase 3, the conjugates from Phase 2 (which are now water soluble and have been reduced in toxicity) are ready to be removed from the body. They are pumped into the bile and intestinal lumen to be processed and eliminated. In this portion of detoxification, a healthy gut is imperative.

If you have an imbalance of healthy bacteria vs. bad bacteria (E. Coli, Clostridium), the bad bacteria can produce enzymes like beta-glucuronidase that deconjugate (unbind) the Phase 2 compounds, making them impossible to eliminate and sending them back to be processed again and again by the liver. This increases a person’s toxic load, and the negative feedback loop can be a harbinger of weird symptoms and disease states, which is why proper detoxification is often our doctor's first suggestion in treatment.

What natural products can enhance Phase 3?

Research has shown that calcium-D-glucarate and glucaric acid -- found in various fruits and vegetables including oranges, apples, grapefruit, and cruciferous vegetables -- inhibit beta-glucuronidase, thereby supporting detoxification. Silymarin, a constituent of milk thistle, also inhibits the enzyme beta-glucuronidase.

What can you do?

As you can see, there is a lot more to proper detoxification than simply fasting, cleaning up your diet, or drinking a special drink. It requires each of the 3 phases to be supported by proper minerals, nutrients, and antioxidants. The first step for anyone interested in detoxing should be a quality detoxification program that addresses them all. Once this is accomplished, you can start more targeted detoxification support. For instance, perhaps you know you have had high exposure to heavy metals; some products can target those and support their healthy elimination. Whatever your circumstances may be, rest assured there is a product to support them.

How can BioMed help? 

Bioregulatory Medicine - a protocol which works with all aspects of detoxification whilst supporting the body’s natural processes -  giving you the best chance of reducing your toxic load.

The protocol covers all aspects of integrative nutrition: homeopathic, botanical, and nutritional, giving you the very best in whole-body detoxification.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects how you behave.

Although symptoms are very diverse, many people with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may be more likely to act on impulse. How it affects you or your child will differ from anyone else you know with this diagnosis.

ADHD - Nutrients for Optimal Brain Functioning

How can nutritional therapy and lifestyle measures help manage symptoms and improve brain function? This article looks at the best foods and supplements to include in your diet to help manage the symptoms of ADHD.

The Magic of Magnesium

Magnesium plays a key role in the formation of neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that help send messages between your brain cells. So, if you are deficient, it could be affecting your brain chemistry.

Magnesium has an important role in serotonin production, which helps to regulate your mood. It also helps you get to sleep as it is converted into melatonin and dopamine metabolism. This is the “reward” and “motivation” neurotransmitter.

Studies show that about 50% of people in the US and Europe get less than the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Yet, the true figure is likely to be even less. This is because many individuals do not eat enough plant-based foods, where magnesium is found.

Magnesium is also vital for energy production, in addition to other key nutrients, such as iron and co-enzyme Q10.

Ironically, some ADHD medications deplete magnesium stores in the body. So correcting a deficiency may also have the added benefit of helping your medication work better.

Magnesium is also involved in more than 300 reactions in your body, including:

Energy creation: helps convert food into energy

Protein formation: helps create new proteins from amino acids

Gene maintenance: helps create and repair DNA and RNA

Muscle movements: helps with the contraction and relaxation of muscles

Nervous system regulation: helps regulate neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your brain and nervous system

Hormone regulation: helps with normal insulin secretion and insulin action in your body’s tissues

Taking a magnesium supplement can have profound effects on energy production, sleep quality, anxiety levels and impulsiveness.

Correcting other nutrient deficiencies is also very important.

Bioresonance Therapy and Quantum Analysis testing are both available at BioMed Natural Health Clinic to assess any potential deficiencies.

Fats and Brain Health

Did you know that 60% of your brain’s dried weight is fat? This is one of the reasons a low-fat diet can be so damaging to your health. You also require fat in your diet to obtain fat soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K.

Many fats are made in your body, but the essential fatty acids (EFA) (omega-3 and omega-6) are not. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly important for brain health, are found primarily in fish, especially “oily” fish such as salmon. While you can obtain some plant-based omega-3 fats, studies have shown that some individuals have difficulty converting them into omega-3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA.

Clinical studies suggest that children with ADHD have lower levels of EFAs, both omega-6s and omega-3s. Taking Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) may help reduce ADHD symptoms.

Omega-3 fats support:

Membrane functioning and receptor site formation of brain cells (neurons), without which they don’t work properly.

Serotonin and dopamine synthesis. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that helps control mental activity, mood, behaviour and helps you sleep. Dopamine helps regulate impulsive behavioural tendencies and is part of the brain’s “reward centre”.

The number of dendrites - which help communicate messages and number of synapses (the bridges between neurons).

Omega-6 fatty acids are also important and can be obtained via EPO seeds and some unprocessed organic omega-6 oils. Non-organic poultry, meat, eggs, both organic or non-organic grains (wheat in bread, pasta, flour) and cereals are also high in omega-6 fatty acids.

However, Arachidonic acid from the omega-6 family is an inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. In excess, omega-6 fats may lead to inflammatory diseases and mood disorders and compete with the amount of omega-3 fats we need.

Bioresonance/Quantum analysis testing can be especially helpful here to ensure that your levels are optimal. To make sure your omega-3 Index remains in the target range, it is best to re-check it every 6-12 months.

Other supplements helpful in the relief of ADHD symptoms

B vitamins – important for energy metabolism.

Vitamin C – helps to convert dopamine to adrenaline. Low levels can impact how you handle stress and getting to sleep at night.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (or OPCs for short) – can help normalise brain waves, neurotransmitter functioning, histamine regulation and reduce free radical damage.

Eat More Protein and less sugar

Whilst supplementing with vitamins and minerals can be extremely helpful, a well balanced diet is vital for optimum physical and mental health.

Diets high in refined carbohydrates – such as biscuits or breakfast cereals (with added sugar) – do not contain essential brain boosting nutrients. Instead, try to include more healthy carbohydrates such as vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, and other green leafy vegetables. These foods also contain much needed fibre and phytonutrients for your gut microbiome and gut-brain axis.

Protein is another vital building block for neurotransmitter formation. It is found in meat, fish and eggs, as well as nuts, seed, legumes and grains.

Protein (and fat) is also one of the key regulators of your blood sugar. When your blood sugar – and insulin – rise and fall too rapidly, this can result in many symptoms associated with ADHD.

Including:

• Irritability
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Mood swings

Blood sugar levels that remain too high (hyperglycemia), or too low (hypoglycemia), or that fluctuate too rapidly, can contribute to emotional dysregulation. As a result, if you have less than optimal blood sugar regulation, in addition to changes in dopamine and adrenaline neurotransmitter activity, this could make your symptoms worse.

How BioMed can help

At Biomed we are dedicated to helping people maintain/restore their health, and prevent unnecessary degeneration, through the most advanced technology today.

To assess your individual needs, as well as offering computerised screening, BioMed can provide a wide range of diagnostic profiles taken from hair, blood, or saliva including:

• Metabolic Profiles
• Endocrinology Profiles
• Gastrointestinal Profiles
• Immunology Profiles
• Nutritional Profiles
• Energetic Profiles - Quantum Analysis & Bioresonance Therapy
• Genovations™
• Methylation Panel

For further details please click here or BOOK a consultation NOW

For over 50 years intravenous (IV) drips have been used as a safe and effective method of delivering vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients to the body. This method of application administers the required supplement(s) directly into the bloodstream resulting in a 90-100% absorption rate (as opposed to 20-50% possible orally) as the liver and digestive system are avoided altogether. As the blood flows all around the body, it can transport the chosen nutrients to where they are needed, providing instant nourishment at a cellular level.

Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are vital to your physical and mental health. They support your body’s processes, keeping your organs and even your DNA healthy and functioning normally.

Who would benefit from IV Therapy

Anyone who wants to feel and look their best can benefit from an IV infusion.

Originally, intravenous nutrients were used mainly in hospitals for patients who were dehydrated, nutrient-deficient or unable to take medications orally. Nowadays, generally healthy people can boost their wellness and energy levels through IV Therapy.

IV vitamin therapy can be particularly beneficial for people who have digestive disorders that limit the absorption rate of nutrients.

The stress of modern living can lower your immune system and general well-being: IV Therapy can give that much-needed boost, making it a realistic and practical option.

What are the benefits of IV Therapy?

The benefits are numerous: improved mental clarity, immune-boosting, defence against viruses and flu, body and mind fine-tuning, and even clearer, smoother skin (by supporting collagen production).

Other benefits of IV therapy include:

• Promoting faster weight loss
• Treating certain nutrient deficiencies
• Cleansing your body of toxins and free radicals
• Increasing your energy levels
• Promoting better cardiovascular health
• Easing anxiety and promoting relaxation
• Curing hangover symptoms

Individual Treatment Programme

There are various IV infusions available at BioMed, (as listed below) each of which targets a different concern(s). So, prior to treatment, Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, a registered nurse and fully qualified BioMed practitioner, will carry out an in depth consultation.

To aid in evaluating your body’s specific needs, imbalances in the body’s systems or lack of vitamins for example, Claudia may carry out computerised diagnostic tests, the results of which can help in designing your IV therapy around every one of your individual needs and requirements. She will discuss the treatment with you in full detail so you can understand how it works and the benefits it will bring.

What to expect

A small needle is inserted into a vein, usually in the arm, and the infusion is given slowly for up to 1 hour.

IV Therapies Available at BioMed include:

Vitamin IV Drip

Whether you are generally healthy but in need of a boost, either to your immune system or energy levels, the vitamin IV drip could be the solution.

Vitamin drips are used for a wide range of conditions. Some of the most common applications are, of course, vitamin deficiencies, which can be the result of dietary issues, gastrointestinal disease, certain chronic illnesses, and even dementia.

However, vitamin drips can also be an effective component of treatment for chronic or severe wounds, recovery from surgery, renal disease, migraines, and bacterial or viral infections such as pneumonia or severe sinusitis.

Some of the most common vitamins and minerals given by IV include magnesium, calcium, vitamin B, zinc, arginine, glutamine, and vitamin C. The vitamins included in a vitamin drip depend on the treatment the patient needs.

Anti Ageing IV Drip

Anti-aging IV nutrition addresses cell-deep damage caused by the ageing process.
Utilising the power of antioxidants including glutathione. Anti-Ageing IV can help in the fight against free radicals that cause many of the signs of ageing. Brightens the skin and reduces fatigue.

Your skin is a reflection of how healthy your organs are. The healthier your organs are, the better your skin will look. Similar to maintaining a healthy diet, IV therapy can improve your skin’s health and reduce wrinkles by supporting your body’s functions. Any nutrient you receive through IV therapy can benefit your body’s organs by going into your body’s systems and affecting them directly.

Through the intravenous delivery of skin-nourishing nutrients into the body’s bloodstream, your organs can receive essential vitamins and minerals quickly and efficiently to boost skin health. For example, receiving antioxidants via IV therapy can help the liver detoxify faster to rejuvenate the skin. Flushing toxins out of your body promotes clearer, firmer and healthier skin overall to minimize wrinkles.

Multi-Minerals IV Drip

Main Indication:

• Minerals and Micro-elements deficiency
• Fatigue
• Poor diet and stress

Additional Benefits:

• Selenium Powerful antioxidant -2000x Vitamin C
• Zinc Excellent healing of wounds
• Copper: Prevents bone loss, improves skin elasticity and myocardium
• Manganese: Cell regeneration, maintains immune system
• Chrome: Maintains saccharometabolism and peripheral nerve function

Myers cocktail IV Drip

The Myers cocktail, probably the most popular and commonly used combination IV, is beneficial as a general health tonic for all aspects of wellbeing. It is ideal for those of us who are always on the go and burning through the body’s resources faster than we can recover them. It can also be incorporated as part of a wider treatment plan for chronic condition. Selenium is often added to the cocktail for further immune support. The Myers IV cocktail contains a mix of valuable nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Benefits:

• Immune system support
• Sustains energy levels
• Balances vitamins and minerals deficiency
• Enhances athletic performance

Magnesium IV Drip Set 500mg with Vitamins from B group

Main Indication:

• Magnesium deficiency
• Muscle cramps

Magnesium plays an important role in maintaining normal energy production and reduces tiredness and fatigue. Magnesium IV Drip is effective in maintaining a healthy, functioning nervous system. Maintains normal energy production.

Sport and performance IV Drip

Main Indication: Recovery, regeneration improvement of sports performance.
A deficiency in magnesium can present as muscle cramping and spasms and if you’re serious about your exercise, you’ve probably experienced aching muscles and joints at some point. Magnesium can speed up your recovery and help prevent injuries.
Glutathione regenerates and detoxifies the liver.

Immunity Booster IV provides the vitamins and minerals that your body requires for maintenance of the immune system.

Main Indication: Builds up your immune system to fight against future infections

Additional Benefits:

• Reduces tiredness and fatigue
• Decreases oxidative stress to be in peak condition
• Assists your immune system to fight against infections
• Reduces tiredness and fatigue
• Decreases oxidative stress so we’re in peak condition

Oxidative stress caused by a build-up of free radicals can seriously overwhelm our immune system which is why we’ve included powerful antioxidants, such as glutathione, cysteine and arginine, which wage war on free radicals.

Detox Glutathione IV Drip Set

Main Indication: Detox & Liver Regeneration

Additional Benefits:

• Boosts physical performance and recovery time
• Anti-ageing
• Increases energy, improves skin, cleanses liver, helps after alcohol overdose & drug use
• Skin brightening
• Reduces cortisol levels
• Helps with stress
• Slows down ageing process
• Immune system support

High dose drip IV Vitamin C

Main Indication: Booster for the immune system, anti-viral and anti-oxidant.

• Additional Benefits:
• Vitamin C is a strong anti-oxidant
• Also thought to raise neurotransmitter levels in the brain

Skinny IV Drip Set

Raise your metabolism and get the weight loss results you want with the help of a Skinny IV Drip. As well as stimulating your natural metabolism to help to burn fat, this vitamin injection also helps to regulate sleep, mood and appetite cycles. Put a spring into your step and reach your weight loss goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight, need dietary help to augment your red blood cell production, or just want a way to detoxify your body, the Skinny IV Drip composition can help.

Main Indication: Rapid Metabolism Booster.

Additional Benefits:

• Rapidly converts fat into energy
• Formulated for weight loss and enhanced energy levels by stimulating metabolism
• Designed for body sculpting and immune system enhancement
• Boosts Energy Levels
• Improves Mood
• Balances Hormone Levels
• Boosts Muscle Recovery

If you think IV Therapy may be just what you need, or for any other health matters,

please contact Claudia or book a consultation NOW

Radial Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that causes pain along the top of your forearm and in your hand. 

It's caused by pressure on a nerve in your arm called the radial nerve.

The radial nerve, one of three nerves that provide motor and sensory function to the arm, is part of the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system sends signals from your brain to your arms and fingers, lower limbs, skin and internal organs.

The radial nerve begins at the brachial plexus : a network of nerves in the shoulder that carries movement and sensory signals from the spinal cord to the arms and hands. The radial nerve extends downward to the wrist and into the hand, branching several times to provide movement to the muscles of the dorsal arm and sensation to the skin covering the forearm and the back of the hand. It is involved in extension of the arm, wrist and finger as well as supination (outward rotation) of the forearm.

Brachial plexus injuries typically stem from trauma to the neck, and can cause pain, weakness and numbness in the arm and hand. Compression of the radial nerve results in Radial Tunnel Syndrome.

In comparison to Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Radial Tunnel Syndrome is the least common of the three.

What causes Radial Tunnel Syndrome?

At the lateral aspect of the elbow, the radial nerve branches into the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) and enters the radial tunnel.

The radial tunnel is formed by bone and the muscles used for the supination of the forearm.

Most frequently, Radial Tunnel Syndrome occurs from compression in the proximal forearm associated with these muscles.

Bone fractures, trauma to the soft tissues surrounding the nerve, or repetitive motion resulting in inflammation of the muscle can all result in Radial Tunnel Syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Radial Tunnel Syndrome?

The radial nerve is the most frequently injured nerve in the upper extremity, especially in patients with multiple injuries.

The most common symptom is pain in the forearm a couple of inches below the elbow.

Generally, the pain will increase with activity, heavy lifting, or by extending the elbow and pronating (inward rotation) the forearm.

The pain can be described as achy, and is occasionally associated with muscle weakness and may worsen at night.

However, there can be a wide range of symptoms from weakness to complete paralysis of the elbow, forearm, wrist, finger, and thumb extension, failure of forearm supination, thumb abduction, and triceps reflex abolition, with or without sensory deficit in the back side of the forearm and in back and radial side of the hand.

The loss of active extension of the wrist removes the mechanical advantage to grab things and grip hard.

Treatment

Nerve injuries can affect your everyday movement, especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle. If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain from a nerve injury, there is an alternative to surgery that can help you feel and move better – faster.

Traditionally, the treatment options for nerve injuries have been physical therapy, bracing, steroid injections – which damage tissue – or surgery. Thankfully, these are no longer the only treatment solutions for nerve injuries.

In recent years, evidence has been accumulating in both preclinical and clinical settings indicating that PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma, injections are more effective than other conservative treatments in relieving pain, improving wrist function and reducing the swelling associated with Radial Tunnel Syndrome. Similarly, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome have been shown to respond well to PRP injections.

PRP injections are injections of plasma –the liquid part of your blood which has a higher concentration of platelets. A sample of your blood is taken then spun in a special type of centrifuge that concentrates the blood's own platelets These platelets contain proteins called growth factors which are important in the body's own healing mechanism. With a higher concentration of growth factors than typically found in blood, PRP injections can accelerate the healing and regenerative processes helping to reduce inflammation and pain. Since it is your own blood being used, unlike some treatments, PRP therapy has an extremely low risk of negative side-effects or allergic reaction. PRP injections can promote healing and restore feeling and movement by boosting your body’s natural healing process.

PRP therapy takes time to work. It is not like a steroid shot that will make you feel better right away. You may feel more pain at first, since we are causing swelling in the area that was already sore. The swelling is needed for the blood cells to start helping you heal for the long term.

Is PRP better than cortisone?

Cortisone Injections have immediate pain relief but are primarily a temporary solution. With PRP on the other hand, it offers not only pain relief also tissue regeneration and healing but has a longer healing and pain relief time.

How BioMed can help

Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, is a fully trained PRP Practitioner with several years of experience in treating a variety of conditions with PRP - with very successful outcomes.

For more information about PRP Therapy please follow the LINK

BOOK a consultation now.

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are two conditions that occur in the large intestine (colon). 

Together they are known as diverticular disease. Both share the common feature of diverticula. Ageing and heredity are primary factors in the development of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, but diet also plays a role.

What is diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is a condition whereby small pouches, or sacs, known as diverticula, form in the inner layer of the intestine and push outward through naturally weak areas in the outer wall of the intestine.

Diverticula can range from pea-size to much larger. Although they can form anywhere in the inner lining of your colon, they are most commonly found in your lower left side, in the S-shaped segment of your colon called the sigmoid colon.

Once diverticula form they do not disappear by themselves but if there are no symptoms (diverticulosis) then no treatment is required. Because most people do not have symptoms, diverticulosis is often found incidentally during evaluation for another condition or during a screening exam for polyps.

What causes diverticulosis?

There is no clear evidence as to what causes diverticulosis, however, because it is uncommon in regions of the world where diets are high in fibre and rich in grains, fruits and vegetables, it is thought this condition is due in part to a diet low in fibre. Fibre helps to make your stools softer so they put less pressure on the walls of your intestines. A low-fibre diet can cause a buildup of waste, constipation, which increases pressure within the digestive tract with straining during bowel movements. The combination of pressure and straining over many years likely leads to diverticulosis.

What are the symptoms of diverticulosis?

Usually diverticulosis does not cause any troublesome symptoms. However, some people report:

• Tenderness over the affected area
• Mild abdominal cramps
• Swelling or bloating
• Constipation

Keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have diverticulosis. These symptoms are common symptoms of other gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis, gallstones and stomach ulcers.

How common is diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is very common in Western populations and occurs in 10% of people over age 40 and in 50% of people over age 60. The rate of diverticulosis increases with age, and it affects almost everyone over age 80.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when one or more of the diverticula become infected or inflamed.

What causes diverticulitis?

Again, the causes of diverticulitis are uncertain, but evidence suggests that inflammation and infection develop when a hard piece of stool or undigested food gets trapped in one of the diverticula. This gives bacteria the chance to multiply and spread, triggering an infection.

Another theory is that the walls of the diverticula themselves erode from the increased pressure on the colon walls.

Diverticular disease can also be hereditary.

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

The symptoms of diverticulitis include:

• Pain, tenderness or sensitivity in the left lower side of your abdomen. Pain can start out mild and increase over several days or come on suddenly. (Pain is the most common symptom.)
• Fever
• Mucous on the stool
• Bloating
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Chills
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea

Diverticulitis can be a serious, and even a potentially life-threatening complication. Health problems that can arise from diverticulitis include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Abscesses and fistulas
• Obstructions and strictures
• Perforation, leading to peritonitis

Who is at risk of having diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

You are at increased risk of diverticular disease if you:

• Are over 40 years of age
• Are male
• Are overweight
• Eat a low-fibre diet. You don’t eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, breads and grains or nuts
• Eat a diet high in fat and red meat
• Don’t exercise
• Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen ; steroids; or opioids
• Smoke

How is diverticulitis diagnosed?

Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed during an acute attack. If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, it’s important to be seen by your healthcare provider to get the correct diagnosis.

Tests to confirm the diagnosis of diverticular disease include:

• Medical history – including dietary habits
• Physical examination – including rectal examination
• Colonoscopy – a slender flexible tube inserted into the anus so that the doctor can look at the entire length of the large intestine
• Barium enema – a special contrasting dye flushed into the bowel via the anus and x-rays are taken
• CT scan – to detect abscesses outside the bowel lining
• Blood tests – to check for signs of infection
• Stool tests – to check for the presence of blood in the faeces or the presence of infections, which may mimic the symptoms of diverticulosis and diverticulitis

How can diverticulosis be prevented?

Having regular bowel movements and avoiding constipation and straining is important to prevent diverticular disease and reduce its complications.

Self-care suggestions include:

• Take digestive enzymes and/or probiotics as supplements which help the breakdown of food and support the digestive system
• Increase daily intake of green vegetables. Introduce fibre gradually to avoid unpleasant symptoms such as flatulence
• Drink plenty of fluids to ensure your stools are soft, moist and easy to pass
• Exercise regularly to encourage bowel function and peristalsis

How much fibre should I eat?

Government guidelines say our dietary fibre intake should be 30g a day, as part of a healthy balanced diet. As most adults are only eating an average of about 20g day, we need to find ways of increasing our intake.

What foods are high in fibre?

High-fibre foods include:

• Whole grain foods such as breads, pasta, crackers, barley, brown rice and oatmeal
• Berries and other fruit
• Vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots, asparagus, squash and beans
• Bran products, made from rice, corn, wheat, oats, barley rye and millet
• Cooked dried peas and beans

Besides preventing constipation, eating a high-fibre diet helps lower blood pressure, reduces blood cholesterol, improves blood sugar and reduces the risk of developing certain intestinal disorders such as colorectal cancer.

What’s most important is to figure out what foods do and don’t cause symptoms and avoid the foods that cause symptoms or make your symptoms worse.

Treatment of diverticulitis

The conventional medical treatment for diverticulitis is most often antibiotics taken by mouth along with rest, taking over-the-counter medications for pain and following a low-fibre diet. When pain is worse, a clear liquid diet to allow the colon and bowel to recover may also be prescribed.

Whilst antibiotics may be needed in the short term, they can also bring with them unwanted side effects. Antibiotics cannot distinguish between good and bad bacteria so indiscriminately wipe out both. Once both good and bad have been wiped out, harmful bacteria quickly proliferate and problems can soon start to arise.

To help minimise disturbances to the gut microbiome should you need to take an antibiotic, it is important to supplement with a high quality probiotic supplement. The combination of strains used in a recent study, taken at the same time as antibiotics, was shown to minimise disturbances to the gut microbiota, and reduce those all-too-frequent side effects.

How BioMed can help

Establishing your individual requirements is an essential part of optimising your health.

Here at the BioMed Natural Health Clinic, we offer a specialised testing service that can help support not only gut health but overall health and wellness.

We offer Bioresonance and Quantum Analysis Screening services which analyse all your body’s different systems, creating reports which highlight any deficiencies or imbalances. This is particularly important in maintaining and supporting a healthy digestive system.

Following the screening an individualised Health Plan can then be created. This may include recommending vitamins and/or supplements, Bioregulatory remedies and various other treatments.

Everyone forgets things at times. Perhaps you misplace your car keys or forget the name of a person you just met.

Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a fairly common part of ageing.

There's a difference, however, between normal changes in memory and memory loss associated with disorders such as Alzheimer's. Some memory problems are the result of treatable conditions.

We now know that much of brain function can be attributed to metabolic processes but there has been little advancement in mainstream medicine in maintaining healthy brain function and memory. However, science is mapping developments in neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt) and some of this research offers an optimistic outlook for neurodegeneration issues.

So what new things have we learned about neuroplasticity lately? As it turns out, quite a bit!

As with most chronic illnesses, they are by and large a result of how we have been living over the last 100 years. The advent of the chemical revolution, stressful lifestyles, living longer, sedentary lifestyles, working indoors rather than outdoors all combine to create a perfect soup for suboptimal brain function.

The key though is that we can modulate many of these things in our life. We can start eating organic. We can reduce stress in our lives. Through bioregulatory medicine, we can target specific pathways in the brain that support neurogeneration.

Here are some of the ways we can help ourselves to maintain healthy brain function:

Eliminate all simple carbohydrates

By removing foods that raise your blood sugar levels, you may be helping to support your cognition. In a 2018 study, 5,189 people over 10 years were observed and the results comprehensively showed that the higher the blood sugars the faster the cognitive decline.

Eliminate gluten and processed foods from the diet

The omission of processed foods is hopefully an obvious task but why gluten? Simply, gluten activates a zonulin pathway in the gut and this creates ‘leaky gut‘ or intestinal permeability. This sets up unnecessary immune reactions in the bloodstream and can lead to unwanted metabolic by-products getting into the system such as lipopolysaccharides (bacterial toxins).

Diet and intermittent fasting

To enhance autophagy, the body's way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells, it is a really useful practice to start intermittent fasting. A minimum eating window should be 8 hours, but if this can be reduced to 6 hours then all the better.

Following a high fat diet will start pushing the body towards ketosis which will help the body produce ketones and the brain loves to burn ketones for fuel. They burn much cleaner than glucose. Fasting for a minimum of 3 hours before bed is also really important. The goal here is to reduce insulin levels.

Manage stress

Stress means cortisol release, and elevated cortisol levels can have very detrimental effects on neurochemistry. A common complaint among people who live very busy lives, burning the candle at both ends in high-stress jobs, is poor short-term memory. This is the effect that elevated cortisol is having on their frontal cortex. Cortisol also stimulates the release of insulin which again has a negative impact on blood sugars.

Some practices for managing stress include meditation, yoga, and tai-chi. Read more about ways to manage your stress here.

Sleep

Sleep is essential to rest and repair. Melatonin is key. In one study, 6 mg of melatonin per day reduced sundowning (onset of behavioural changes in the evening – anxiety and mood changes are common for Alzheimer’s patients in the evening) and it also slowed the evolution of cognitive decline. If melatonin is not tolerated then it is worth trying other herbal sleep supports. Weighted blankets are well researched to increase deep sleep so these are worth using.

Exercise

If you have memory decline you do need to get plenty of exercise. Aim for about 30-60 minutes a day 4-6 days a week. High intensity is very beneficial but do what you can. Combining exercise and intermittent fasting are useful ways to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), a protein that supports the survival of neurons.

Near infrared (NIR) light therapy

NIR is the light that best supports the mitochondria in the body. We get it at sunrise and sunset. NIR also structures water in the cells. The hypothesis is that structured water has a greater electrical potential in the cells than de-structured water.

Studies are showing the benefits of NIR therapy for neurodegeneration issues. You can make your own head kit with NIR lamps or if your budget permits you can purchase some of the more cutting-edge gadgets.

Balance hormones

Cortisol and insulin have already been mentioned but add to the list your thyroid hormones. Thyroid regulates metabolism in the body and slow thyroid function is not going to help in the energy or cognitive department.

Detox

Our cells are literally constipated with industrial and chemical toxins. Tests invariably show trace or greater amounts of chemicals/pesticides. Heavy metals are strongly linked with cognitive decline. These accumulate in our fat cells. As we age cells break down and these long-held toxins are released and can accumulate in the brain. A thorough screening of toxins is so important with cognitive issues.

Optimise vitamin and mineral status

Dysregulation of brain metals/minerals is a cofactor in declining memory and brain function.

Getting a detailed analysis of all the body’s systems can detect any imbalances or deficiencies you may have.

HOW BIOMED CAN HELP

Bioresonance and Quantum-analysis Screening are non-invasive, computerised testing programmes which carry out this important analysis and create reports, highlighting any lack of vital nutrients or vitamins, whilst also identifying any other general health issues.

So, if you have any concerns about your brain function or your memory seems to be ‘getting worse’ BOOK a consultation with Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, who will recommend the best tests for you, explain the results in full, and provide a comprehensive protocol to optimise what your body is lacking.

This may include recommending Bioregulatory remedies and/or supplements, alongside other treatments tailored to your individual needs.

Why do we need a good balance of friendly bacteria?

Your body is estimated to contain around 100 trillion bacteria, which can weigh up to 2kg. These bacteria can be found on the skin’s surface, inside the mouth and the uro-genitary tract, but most live in the large intestine. More than 1000 different types live in the large intestine, and furthermore within these types can be a total of up to 5000 strains. Many of these are fundamental to our health and well-being but some can be harmful. The balance of functional and potentially disease-causing bacteria is crucially important to health.

Gut microbiome and general health

The bacteria that live in your gut, commonly referred to as the ‘gut microbiome’, are now considered to be almost an organ in their own right and perhaps as important to your health and happiness as your genes. Needless to say, you need to look after them!

Good gut health requires a balance of the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria that reside there. With up to 80% of your immune system found in the gut, as well as the majority of the body’s serotonin, it’s not just bowel function that your gut affects, but several areas of health including immunity, mood, skin health, and more.

Beneficial bacteria:

• Help the body to break down undigested food & neutralise harmful by-products of food breakdown, thus reducing the likelihood of developing food allergies and intolerances.

• Help with the absorption of nutrients via the gut wall.

• Control levels of oxygen & acidity in the gut, thus helping to create an environment which encourages a healthy gut microflora to proliferate and wards off unhealthy microorganisms; this means by having sufficient & appropriate ‘commensal’ bacteria, let’s call them the friendly guys, we are able to crowd out and ward off the unfriendly ones, the hooligans, that enter our digestive tract via the food we eat.

• Support the production of B vitamins and vitamin K

• Play an important role in the immune system; it is thought that 80% of our immune system resides in the gut and the bacteria here work synergistically as part of this defensive ecosystem.

• Reduce the risk of developing allergies and intolerances by helping to modulate immune function and keep the gut wall in tiptop condition.

• Research suggests that maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut may help to support healthy weight by reducing cravings and supporting other metabolic pathways, which then reduce the risks of metabolic problems such as type 2 diabetes.

• Reinforce the gut-brain connection – Emerging research in the field of mental health & related conditions are linking anxiety, depression, autism and hyperactivity to alterations in the gut microflora.

Imbalance in the microbiome

We all have our own unique microbiome very much like a fingerprint, but it can be easily disrupted by a number of factors such as:

• Medication and antibiotic-use

• How we were born and those first crucial minutes, hours and years

• The diet we choose to consume

• Our environmental toxins in our home, school, offices, cars and air we breathe

• Our emotional health and any trauma we experience

• Surgery

Symptoms that may reveal your gut bacteria may be out of balance

• Gas and bloating

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Constipation / diarrhoea

• Fatigue

• Sugar cravings / cravings for refined carb foods

• Low mood

• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

• Poor immune health

• Allergies / intolerances to foods, or anything else in our environment such as pollen, pet dander and household chemicals

How to nurture a healthy balance of good bacteria

Feed the good – Beneficial bacteria thrive on a diet rich in wholefoods, fruit and vegetables so you need to include lots of these rainbow foods in your diet. Foods for beneficial bacteria are known as ‘prebiotics’. Particularly useful prebiotic foods include asparagus, bananas, onions, garlic, cabbage, chicory root, dandelion greens, beans & lentils, wholegrains, artichokes, root vegetables and apples.

Eat Diversely – We now realise that diversity is the key to health, over and above the outdated and inadequate 5-a-day message that we receive. It is understood that in order to feed our microbiome with the food it needs to thrive, we need to be eating at least 30 different plant foods per week; this includes fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Starve the bad – Avoid sugar, alcohol, caffeine, refined and processed foods as these can feed unhealthy organisms.

Probiotic-rich foods – As well as providing food for the good guys and starving the bad, it’s also useful to consume foods, which naturally contain high levels of probiotic organisms. Many people think of live yoghurt when it comes to upping your intake of good bacteria, however there is a range of food, which can be far superior to live yoghurt when it comes to supporting your gut microflora. Fermented foods such as kefir, kimchi, tempeh, natto, lassi, sauerkraut and kombucha naturally contain high levels of a variety of beneficial bacteria and are a great addition to your daily diet.

Probiotic supplement – A daily probiotic supplement is now considered to be as important for your health as daily multivitamins and minerals. Choose a probiotic supplement that contains scientifically proven strains to ensure it will be effective. It is also important that your probiotic can demonstrate that it can survive the stomach acid and reach the intestines intact, otherwise it will be ineffective.

Antibiotics only when necessary - Antibiotics wipe out both good and bad bacteria, so it is important to take them only when necessary. If you do need to take antibiotics, make sure you follow up with a high strength probiotic supplement to replenish your beneficial gut microflora. Or better yet taking a combination of Saccharomyces boulardii and a blend of bacterial strains alongside the antibiotic may help minimise disturbances to the gut microbiome and reduce those all-to-frequent side effects. Finally, be particularly careful with your diet whilst using antibiotics and afterwards too. Consume plenty of prebiotic foods that will help the good bacteria to repopulate and avoid refined, sugary foods to limit the growth of unhealthy microorganisms.

Minimise exposure to environmental and lifestyle factors - Friendly bacteria are highly vulnerable to damage by lifestyle and environmental factors. Chlorinated and fluoridated water, antibacterial soaps, agricultural chemicals and pesticides, pollution, stress, noise & food additives can all interfere with a healthy gut microflora. So it’s worth assessing your exposure to these factors and taking steps to minimise where possible. Incorporate regular relaxation into your lifestyle to reduce stress and support beneficial bacteria. Yoga and mindfulness are ancient techniques that have a long history of use for reducing stress and supporting overall well-being.

So, you can see that anything we choose to put in our mouths, will ultimately have an impact on our microbiome for the better or worse. More and more research is coming through in relation to probiotic therapy and the function of our microbiome, so we would be doing ourselves and our state of health a huge injustice by ignoring these little bacteria and not treating them with the respect they deserve.

Nutri Advanced has a range of high strength probiotics with formulas specially tailored to aid your digestive system.

Claudia Carrillo, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, is happy to recommend Nutri Advanced as a reliable and trustworthy supplier for all your supplement needs.

The best way to experience the full range of benefits would be to shop directly and place your orders on their website.

To do this - register as my patient and enter my account number when prompted. Account name - Claudia Carrillo - Account No 3067651.

You will then automatically receive 10% discount on all your orders. Follow the link

The blast took both his legs and shattered his pelvis. Al thought he was a goner but the bomb had only half-exploded – and three brave pals, ignoring the danger, charged in to save him. Fellow Parachute Regiment members Matt Hellyer, Kenny Davidson and Ian ‘Ilch’ Illidge got Al to a helicopter near Cappagh, Co Tyrone.

Since that day, with help from The Soldiers’ Charity, Al has been able to honour his pledge to live life to the full and follow his passion by competing in Skydiving at international level. What started as a rebuilding of his life led to doing one tandem skydive which led to the desire to learn to skydive which would eventually lead to a gold medal at the British National Championships and a bronze at the World Championships in Dubai. Al has gone on to skydive with the Army’s Freefall Display Team, The Red Devils

And now, Al and Matt Hellyer are part of a 10-strong team rowing the Channel, from Poole Harbour to Cherbourg and back,  for charity Pilgrim Bandits, which helps injured squaddies. 

Read more The mirror

Al, 51, of Kendal, Cumbria, said: “Matt and I will be rowing side by side, attempting to set a record. “When I think back to that day, one of the things that stands out and fills me with so much pride was seeing those three boys running towards me, through danger, with the sole intent of keeping me alive.

Claudia – BioMed - Health Care Professional – “I have been treating Al since December 2020. He came to me initially mainly with painful arthritis in his shoulder, caused by overuse. Al also suffers from phantom pain. Over the last eighteen months his condition has responded well to treatments which include bodywork, EGT, acupuncture, bioregulatory-medicine especially PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy) - a very effective treatment for arthritis in joints and many other physical conditions.

I am delighted to say that his improvement is such that he is now taking on this remarkable latest challenge – rowing – with his team mates – across the English Channel and back. I have great admiration for Al and all that he achieves. He is truly inspirational.”

Eczema (also known as dermatitis) is the name for a group of skin conditions which cause inflammatory dry skin. It can affect people from early infancy to old age. The most common form, atopic eczema, affects 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults in the UK.

The skin is often unbearably itchy – the urge to scratch can be irresistible – and during a flare-up it can also be red, cracked, sore and raw. Alongside the painful physical symptoms, many children and adults experience related sleeplessness, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.

Eczema is not contagious. You can’t “catch it” from someone else. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers.

When an irritant or an allergen from outside or inside the body “switches on” the immune system, it produces inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes the symptoms common to most types of eczema.

There are several different types of eczema.

It is possible to have more than one type of eczema on your body at the same time. Each form of eczema has its own set of triggers and treatment requirements, which is why it’s so important to consult with a Healthcare provider. Dermatologists in particular can help identify which type or types of eczema you may have and how to treat and prevent flare-ups.

This blog focuses on:

Atopic dermatitis

Contact dermatitis

Neurodermatitis

Dyshidrotic eczema

Nummular eczema

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) the most common type of eczema, is a chronic condition that can come and go for years or throughout life, and can overlap with other types of eczema.

In people with AD, for complex reasons science hasn’t fully sorted out, the immune system becomes disordered and overactive. This triggers inflammation that damages the skin barrier, leaving it dry and prone to itching and rashes that may appear purple, brown or grayish hue in darker skin tones and red in lighter skin tones.

Research shows that some people with eczema, especially atopic dermatitis, have a mutation of the gene responsible for creating filaggrin. Filaggrin is a protein that helps our bodies maintain a healthy, protective barrier on the very top layer of the skin. Without enough filaggrin to build a strong skin barrier, moisture can escape and bacteria, viruses and more can enter. This is why many people with AD have very dry and infection-prone skin.

Who gets AD and why?

Atopic dermatitis typically begins in childhood, usually in the first six months of a baby’s life. Even though it’s a common form of eczema, it’s also severe and long-lasting. When you or your child have atopic dermatitis, it may improve at times; but at other times, it may get worse. In some children, symptoms may taper off as they grow up, while other children will have atopic dermatitis flares into adulthood.

Atopic dermatitis exists with two other allergic conditions: asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis). People who have asthma and/or hay fever or who have family members who do, are more likely to develop AD.

What are the symptoms of AD?

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) signs and symptoms vary widely from person to person and include:

• Dry skin
• Itching, which may be severe, especially at night
• Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp
• Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
• Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
• Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Itching is the hallmark of AD, with some data showing that more than 85% of people with the condition experience this distressing symptom every day. Sore or painful skin and poor sleep caused by itching are also common.

People with AD can get rashes anywhere on the body that can ooze, weep fluid and bleed when scratched, making skin vulnerable to infection. Skin can become dry and discolored, and repeated scratching can cause thickening and hardening — a process called lichenification.

How is AD treated?

When AD is mild, management may include:

• Avoiding known triggers
• Maintaining a regular bathing and moisturizing routine to protect and strengthen the skin barrier
• getting high-quality sleep
• Eating a healthy diet
• Managing stress

If these methods are not enough, other treatments include:

Topical corticosteroids

Non-steroidal topicals

Biologics

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis happens when the skin becomes irritated or inflamed after coming in contact with a substance that triggers an allergic reaction. 

It bears some of the same symptoms as the six other types of eczema. But unlike atopic dermatitis — the most common and difficult-to-treat form of eczema — it doesn’t run in families and isn’t linked to other allergic conditions such as hay fever or asthma.

There are two main types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic.

Irritant contact dermatitis, which accounts for 80% of all contact dermatitis, doesn’t involve an allergic reaction by the immune system. Instead, it happens when skin cells are damaged by exposure to irritating substances, such as solvents, detergents, soaps, bleach or nickel-containing jewelry. Makeup, hair dye, nickel-containing scissors, belt buckles or clothes with metal snaps or zippers can also trigger reactions — as can over-washing hands with hot water and soap and wearing scratchy wool.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed allergic reaction that appears as a rash a day or two after skin is exposed to an allergen. A common example is poison ivy. After exposure, the body generates a robust inflammatory reaction to the oils in the plant leading to an itchy rash within one to two days. Fragrances, nickel and the preservative thimerosal, which is found in some topical antibiotics, are also common causes of allergic contact dermatitis.

Who gets contact dermatitis and why?

Irritant contact dermatitis is common in people whose professions involve daily use of chemicals, such as mechanics, custodians, healthcare workers or hairstylists.

What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?

In addition to itch, contact dermatitis may cause burning or blistering of the skin, and can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life, including sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating or performing duties at work and in school.

How is contact dermatitis treated?

Dermatologists commonly prescribe steroids to treat symptoms of contact dermatitis, which can mimic several other skin conditions. It’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist to rule out other conditions.

Topical steroids may resolve itching and other contact dermatitis symptoms, but if the rash is widespread, dermatologists may prescribe a short-term course of oral or injectable corticosteroids.

Preventing future outbreaks depends on pinpointing—and then avoiding—the irritant or allergen that triggers flares.

With irritant contact dermatitis, the trigger is usually easy to identify, as stinging, pain or discomfort usually happens within minutes of contact.

For allergic contact dermatitis, knowing what to avoid often requires an in-office procedure called patch testing. This is when the doctor applies patches with small amounts of various allergens to the patient’s arm or back and then evaluates skin after about 48 hours.

Dyshidrotic eczema causes small, intensely itchy blisters on the palms of hands, soles of feet and edges of the fingers and toes. 

While the actual cause of dyshidrotic eczema isn’t known, it is more common in people who have another form of eczema and tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component.

 Who gets dyshidrotic eczema and why?

This common form of eczema, also called pompholyx (which means “bubble” in ancient Greek), foot-and-hand eczema, palmoplantar eczema and vesicular eczema, is found more frequently in women than in men.

Dyshidrotic eczema is most common in younger adults, typically between the ages of 20 and 40. People can have a single flare-up of dyshidrotic eczema, but it’s more common for it to come and go over long periods of time.

Metals, particularly nickel, are a common trigger. Stress can also cause a flare. The condition is also linked to seasonal allergies like hay fever, and to hot, humid weather. Sweaty palms can trigger the rash, as can doing a job such as hairstyling or healthcare that entails frequently getting the hands wet.

What are the symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema?

Flares happen only on the hands and feet and usually begin with a rash of painful, deep-seated blisters called vesicles, although sometimes itching and burning sensations begin first. As blisters heal, the skin dries and often reddens and peels. This leaves it tender and dry and sometimes creates painful fissures or cracks. Skin can also become infected.

How is dyshidrotic eczema treated?

Knowing your triggers and maintaining a regular skincare routine can help prevent and manage dyshidrotic eczema flares. Helpful steps can include:

•  Wash the affected skin with a mild cleanser and gently pat dry.
• Apply a heavy cream with ingredients like ceramides to help repair the skin barrier.
• Remove rings and other jewelry when you wash your hands so water doesn’t linger on you skin.
• Wash then moisturize hands or feet immediately after coming into contact with a potential trigger.
• Use stress management techniques.
• Keep fingernails short to help prevent scratching from breaking the skin.

Dermatologists can usually diagnose dyshidrotic eczema with a skin exam and medical history. Many cases improve quickly with a short course of topical corticosteroids combined with soaking or applying cool compresses to affected areas a few times a day to help dry out blisters. Because this form of eczema is sometimes linked to a fungal infection on the hands or feet, your dermatologist may prescribe an anti-fungal medication if needed.

Areas of dyshidrotic eczema are also at risk for bacterial skin infections, which can delay or prevent healing. If you develop swelling, crusting, pain or pus-filled blisters, visit your dermatologist to check for bacterial infection, which requires treatment with oral antibiotics.

When dyshidrotic eczema is severe or flares happen often, dermatologists may prescribe light therapy, topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) or oral steroids. Occasionally, botulinum toxin injections are used to control the sweaty hands and feet that can trigger the condition.

Neurodermatitis?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Intense itching — and the scratching it causes — lead to the symptoms of neurodermatitis, a common type of eczema that affects about

12% of the population. Unlike atopic dermatitis, which can be widespread, neurodermitis is usually confined to one or two patches of skin. It rarely goes away without treatment, and continued scratching can irritate nerve endings in skin, intensifying both itching and scratching.

“Extremely itchy patches of skin cause patients to scratch even when they don’t realize it, and just telling them to stop isn’t realistic,” said Dr. Gil Yosipovitch, professor and director of the Miami Itch Center at the Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. Yosipovitch, who has used brain imaging to study the urge to scratch in patients with chronic itching, explained that scraping at the skin lights up the brain’s reward center. “In some sense, scratching is pleasurable, not that you want to do it, but that it provides relief and satisfaction,” he said. “This helps explain why it can become a habit that often happens unconsciously, and why this itch-scratch cycle is hard to break.” over time, chronic scratching causes itchy patches of skin to become dry, leathery and thickened. This is called lichenification, and neurodermatitis is also known as lichen simplex chronicus.

Symptoms of neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis can occur anywhere you can reach to scratch, but is most common on the feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and scalp. The eyelids can also be affected, as can genital and anal areas.

Itching can come and go or be active all the time. People often feel itchiest when they’re relaxing or trying to sleep, or when they’re stressed or anxious.

Thick, leathery patches of neurodermatitis can develop pronounced skin lines, scales and discoloration that’s often red, brown or gray. Scratching can cause open wounds that bleed, infection, scabbing and scarring. Over time, scratching scalp patches can cause hair loss.

Quality of life can also suffer, and itching can disrupt sleep and interfere with sexual function.

Who gets neurodermatitis and why?

Neurodermatitis is most common in adults between 30 and 50 years of age and occurs more often in women and people with contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. It’s rarely diagnosed in children, although a few with atopic dermatitis also develop neurodermatitis.

Psoriasis and anxiety disorders increase risk. “Research and clinical experience suggest certain personality types are more prone to developing neurodermatitis,” said Yosipovitch. “These include having stronger tendencies to conform or be a ‘people pleaser,’ to hold in emotions, or to be excessively dutiful.”

Neurodermatitis can also be triggered by tight clothing (particularly when made from wool or synthetic fabric), bug bites, nerve injury and dry skin.

Treating neurodermatitis

Treatment for neurodermatitis is aimed at healing skin and ending the itch-scratch cycle.

Dermatologists often use corticosteroids to help calm inflammation and itch and soften thickened skin. These are usually potent topical steroids, but if the skin is very thick, your dermatologist may inject a steroid into the patch.

Non-steroidal topicals such as calcineurin inhibitors and ointments made with salicylic acid can also be used to control itch.

Occlusive treatments that cover the affected area can help control itching and make it harder to scratch. These include applying plastic wrap after putting on topicals or moisturizer or using gauze treated with zinc oxide paste.

Dermatologists may also prescribe medicated patches that contain lidocaine, a numbing agent, and capsaicin, a chili pepper component that helps desensitize the nerve endings causing itching.

Some oral medications can also help stop the urge to scratch, particularly when it happens during sleep. These include prescription antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness, and low doses of anti-anxiety medications.

Certain patients may benefit from counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy to help address anxiety and other emotional issues contributing to the itch-scratch cycle.

Relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, yoga and mindfulness practices can also help curb scratching.

Moisturizing daily, cool compresses or baths with colloidal oatmeal, and wearing loose-fitting, non-irritating clothing can relieve itching, while keeping fingernails short limits damage caused by scratching.

What is nummular eczema?

Nummular eczema, also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis, features scattered circular, often itchy and sometimes oozing patches.    

The word “nummular” comes from the Latin word for “coin,” as the spots can look coin-shaped on the skin.

Who gets nummular eczema and why?

Nummular eczema can occur at any age, and males tend to develop it more often than females.

Its causes aren’t clear, but triggers can include very dry or sensitive skin and trauma to the skin from insect bites, scrapes or chemical burns.

Nummular eczema may also develop as a reaction to some other types of eczema and their triggers, such as contact dermatitis and nickel. When it appears on the legs, it can be linked to poor blood flow in the lower body and the stasis dermatitis those circulation problems can cause.

 What are the symptoms of nummular eczema?

symptoms of nummular eczema can include:

• coin-shaped lesions on arms, legs, torso and/or hands
• itching and burning
• lesions that are oozing liquid or have crusted over
• red, pinkish or brown, scaly and inflamed skin around the lesions

How is nummular eczema treated?

Nummular eczema can look like psoriasis, ringworm, fungal infection and other types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis and contact dermatitis. It can also occur along with those types of eczema, though it often appears as an isolated condition. Dermatologists can usually spot the condition but may take a skin scraping to confirm a diagnosis.

Once correctly diagnosed, nummular eczema tends to disappear completely with the right treatment. However, unlike some other forms of eczema, nummular seldom improves without relatively aggressive treatment.

Like atopic dermatitis, patches of nummular eczema are often infected with Staphylococcus aureus (staph), which needs to be treated along with the skin inflammation to clear the condition.

Nummular eczema can be treated with a mid- or high-potency topical corticosteroid, along with a topical antibiotic. If eczema patches are substantially weepy and oozy, application of an astringent compress can help dry the area and drive out any staph infection.

How BioMed can help

BioMed takes a total body (and mind) approach in supporting and restoring the body’s bioregulating systems’ ability to regenerate, repair, and self-heal through the use of natural and energetic therapies. This is especially important in the treatment and management of a chronic condition such as eczema and related symptoms.

A personalised Health Care Plan can be formulated to keep your eczema symptoms to a minimum whilst optimising your general health and well being. Bioregulatory remedies have been shown to be particularly effective in speedily reducing the symptoms if an eczema flare up should occur.

Please CONTACT US for a consultation if you have concerns about eczema or any other health condition.

Many of us look forward to spring and summer each year, as the weather gets warmer we naturally spend more time outdoors and everyone seems to be in happier spirits. However, this time of year also brings an increase in hay fever (allergic rhinitis) symptoms as the pollen count rises.

What is Hay Fever?

Hay fever is a common allergic reaction to allergens in the environment such as pollen, dust mites, mould and animal dander, affecting up to one in five people at some point in their life. It typically involves the following symptoms:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Sneezing
• Watery, itchy, red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
• Fatigue

Managing Hay Fever Naturally

Histamine plays a key role in causing hay fever symptoms, as it is released in response to being in contact with pollen, dust etc. So in order to reduce hay fever symptoms, we must lower the levels of histamine in the body and support the body’s inflammatory response. Diet, lifestyle choices and supplements can all help with this.

Diet

Garlic: A good source of quercetin, a natural antihistamine. It also contains compounds that help support the immune system.

Hot peppers: Include the active ingredient capsaicin, which can help to reduce nasal congestion.

Local honey: Contains traces of pollen, so eating it can work to desensitise the body’s allergic response to pollen in the air. For best results locally sourced honey is best as it will contain the type of pollen that is in your close environment.

Chamomile tea: Full of flavonoids and antioxidants which help to reduce inflammation in the body, it’s also a natural antihistamine.

Increase vitamin C: A natural antihistamine and can be found in many fruits such as strawberries, oranges, lemons and grapefruit. You can also try vitamin C supplements.

Turmeric & Ginger: Anti-inflammatory spices that can easily be incorporated into many meals to help with reducing symptoms associated with inflammation.

Magnesium: Supplement with magnesium, a natural antihistamine. Magnesium can also be found in leafy greens and nuts.

Avoid: Food and drinks which increase histamine in the body such as alcohol, fermented foods, dairy products and processed meats.

Lifestyle

Acupuncture: Studies have found that this traditional Chinese therapy can help to reduce the symptoms of a runny nose and irritated eyes.

Saline nasal spray: Helps to clear out your sinuses – removing allergens trapped in the mucus – use twice a day.

Use a Neti pot: Again, this method will help clear out your sinuses.

Wash your clothes regularly: When you return back home from being outdoors, wash your clothes quickly to remove any pollen and allergens on the material. Also, regularly cleaning your house to minimise pollen and other allergens in your home environment can help with symptoms you may experience inside.

Stress reduction techniques: Studies have shown a clear link between stress and the severity of hay fever symptoms. Some stress reduction techniques to try would be meditation, yoga, talking therapy or taking a stress management course.

BioMed offers a bioregulatory remedy which many people have found to be

highly effective in reducing hay fever symptoms.

So if you are looking for a personalised approach to manage your hay fever symptoms,

please get in touch with us at BioMed.

Having an abundance of something means having an ample supply. The opposite of abundance is a lack of something in your life, an emptiness or dissatisfaction. Most of us desire to live an abundant, prosperous life where we can be happy and fulfilled. While it may seem difficult for some people, in reality we can all be happy right now because we already have what it takes to live an abundant life.

There are some simple measures you can incorporate into your daily life that will have you on the life-changing path of abundance in no time.

Awareness of your thoughts

Have abundance mentality. Abundance mentality says that there is enough for everyone, so someone else's gain is not your loss. The mind dictates to you what actions you should take. Our thoughts truly rule our lives, and it’s important to be aware of them when making the transition from scarcity to abundance. Pay attention to your thoughts. Are they positive or negative? Take one day and track as many thoughts as you possibly can. If you learn how to track the thoughts floating in your mind you can control your thought processes.

Practice Gratitude

One of the most powerful things you can do to attract abundance is practice gratitude daily. Be grateful and purposeful. Decide that you are going to look for and seek out the good in every day. Celebrate small wins. Instead of dreading the day as you wake up, immediately think of a few reasons why you are excited and grateful to jump out of bed. Smile more. Complain less. Spend quality time with people who help you see the blessings in life. Before you go to sleep, reflect on the good things that happened that day and write them down. Life is unpredictable, and it won’t always be filled with happy moments. However, when you make an effort to see the good and be grateful for what you have, it makes it easier to get through those tough times.

Be Intentional

If you want to develop more abundance in your life, the key is to make the intentional decision to walk your own path. Be mindful of your everyday consumption. Where is most of your time and energy being spent? Are you spending too much time absorbing bad energy that causes negativity. Make time for self-reflection and be clear in your mind what you really want out of life – what are your values, goals, and dreams? What do you want to become? What really lights you up inside and makes you want to jump out of bed every morning? Until we know what is truly important to us, it’s hard to be intentional with our time and effort. Be mindful of the people who will affect you and change you. Make time to do things that bring you joy and choose to be kind to yourself and others.

Learn Something New

One of the very best gifts you can give yourself is that of knowledge. Try to learn something new every day- something which takes you out of your comfort zone. A person who lives in abundance will make every effort to explore new ideas, learn new skills and broaden their perspective to see things in a new light. Take full advantage of all the resources you have at your fingertips today – podcasts, Ted Talks, online courses, audiobooks – and much more besides.

Eliminate Excuses

If you want to live in more abundance, you have to stop saying, "I cannot," to the things you can do, but you are afraid of failure. Our fears and insecurities drive excuses. They keep us rooted in perfectionism and procrastination so that we don’t venture too far outside our comfort zone. We make up reasons why we can’t before we even try. Fear of failure. Fear of what others will say. Fear of looking stupid. It’s an endless cycle that keeps us stuck in a rut, never allowing us to grow into the person we are meant to be. To live a more abundant life, we have to decide that we will eliminate excuses from our vocabulary and our life. When you notice yourself making an excuse, go to the root cause. What is keeping you from taking action? It can help if you break down bigger goals into smaller tasks, so they are easier to achieve.

Healthier Habits

To have a healthy mindset you need to take care of your body. We live in a microwave society where unhealthy habits run rampant. We get so caught up in the daily chaos of life that we sometimes tend to put our health on the back burner. It’s a good idea to look at your daily habits and see which ones might need some tweaking. You don’t have to join a gym and eat lettuce every day. Simply make an effort to start putting yourself first and create a routine that works for you. Be conscious about what you are putting into your body. Make time for self-care. Eat more veggies. Get outside in nature, breathe the fresh air and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Decrease your stress by learning to say a firm no to the things you don’t really want to do. Love yourself enough to put your health and wellness at the top of the priority list.

Live abundantly from now on

Begin developing your abundance mindset today by incorporating some of these techniques into your daily routine. No matter how long your scarcity mentality has been weighing you down, you have the ability to start over at any given moment. By recognizing that you have a choice, that you don’t have to be stuck in scarcity for the rest of your life, you can begin to transform your life and create your own reality from this day forward. Give yourself patience and grace, and enjoy the journey ahead.

Although rosacea may develop in many ways and at any age, surveys indicate that it typically begins any time after age 30 as flushing or redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Studies have shown that over time the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear.

Left untreated, inflammatory bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases — particularly in men — the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. In as many as 50 percent of patients the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot.

Rosacea makes the skin extremely sensitive. Because the skin is so sensitive, many things can cause rosacea to flare. Rosacea flares are more than a minor inconvenience. Each time your skin flushes, it can stay red a little longer. Rosacea may start to appear on more of your skin. In some people, repeated flushing leads to skin that stays permanently red.

WHO IS PRONE TO ROSACEA?

Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population and all skin types, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk. The disorder is more frequently diagnosed in women, but tends to be more severe in men. There is also evidence that rosacea may tend to run in families, and may be especially prevalent in people of northern or eastern European descent.

In surveys by the National Rosacea Society (NRS), nearly 90 percent of rosacea patients said this condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem, and 41 percent reported it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.

WHAT CAUSES ROSACEA?

Although the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, various theories about the disorder's origin have evolved over the years. These have often related to its primary outward signs and symptoms: flushing and redness, bumps and pimples, and the small visible blood vessels. The range of possible causes has included defects in the immune system, nervous system and facial blood vessels, and the presence of microbes and Demodex mites.

Microscopic Demodex mites are a natural part of the human microbiome — the ecological community of microorganisms that live within and on the body. Two species of Demodex are found in humans. Demodex folliculorum live in hair follicles, primarily on the face, as well as in the meibomian glands of the eyelids; Demodex brevis live in the sebaceous glands of the skin.

While Demodex folliculorum are found on the skin of all humans, they frequently occur in greater numbers in those with rosacea. There has been much debate as to whether their increased numbers are a cause or result of rosacea. However, evidence appears to be mounting that an overabundance of Demodex may possibly trigger an immune response in people with rosacea, or that the inflammation may be caused by certain bacteria associated with the mites.

These mites are most plentiful in the same regions of the face that are most commonly affected by rosacea — the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead — large quantities of mites have been found in biopsies of rosacea papules and pustules.

While the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure, knowledge of its signs and symptoms has advanced to where they can be effectively controlled with various therapies and lifestyle changes.

SYMPTOMS

Persistent Redness

Persistent facial redness is the most common individual sign of rosacea, and may resemble a blush or sunburn that does not go away. Many people with rosacea have a history of frequent blushing or flushing. This facial redness may be accompanied by a sense of heat, warmth or burning comes and goes, and is often an early feature of the disorder.

Bumps and Pimples

Small red solid bumps or pus-filled pimples often develop. While these may resemble acne, blackheads are absent and burning or stinging may occur.

Visible Blood Vessels

In many people with rosacea, prominent and visible small blood vessels called telangiectasia developon the cheeks, nasal bridge, and other areas of the central face.

Eye Irritation

In many rosacea people, the eyes may be irritated and appear watery or bloodshot, a condition commonly known as ocular rosacea. The eyelids also may become red and swollen, and styes are common. Crusts and scale may accumulate around the eyelids or eyelashes, and patients may notice visible blood vessels around the lid margins. Severe cases can result in corneal damage and loss of visual acuity without medical help.

Skin Thickening

The skin may thicken and enlarge from excess tissue, most commonly on the nose (known as rhinophyma). This condition is less common, but can lead to facial disfigurement and inadequate nasal airflow if severe.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROSACEA

There are four types of rosacea, though many people experience symptoms of more than one type.

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is characterized by persistent redness on the face.

Papulopustular Rosacea often begins as pus-filled or red bumps that form close together on your skin

Phymatous Rosacea causes skin to thicken and scar, making it bumpy, swollen, and sometimes discoloured.

Ocular Rosacea - symptoms affect the eyes, causing them to look watery or bloodshot. There may be an associated feeling of burning or irritation in your eyes. Ocular rosacea can cause persistently dry, sensitive eyes, and cysts may form on the eyelids.

How Are Acne and Papules and Pustules Different?

Although it is now known that there is no connection between acne and rosacea, the term “acne rosacea” was once frequently used to describe the bumps (papules) and pimples (pustules) of papulopustular rosacea, and the misleading term is still sometimes used today. This has often led to confusion and rosacea sufferers with bumps and pimples may mistakenly diagnose themselves as having acne. The two disorders require different treatment, however, and acne medications may cause rosacea symptoms to get worse.

Though both conditions may involve bumps and pimples, the causes and biochemical processes are different for each. Acne is a product of many factors, involving the hair follicles, hormonal stimulation of oil glands, inflammation and bacteria. Unlike in people with rosacea, blackheads are often present in acne, and bumps and pimples on the trunk are common. Acne is most commonly seen in teens, and is usually a transient condition.

In contrast, rosacea is a chronic disorder that typically begins in adulthood and occurs primarily in the central portion of the face. Rosacea’s most common feature is redness (erythema), which may come and go and may become more permanent over time. A study published in the Pakistani Journal of Medical Science found that rosacea patients with papules and pustules were more than three times more likely than acne sufferers to have background redness, burning and itching. Unlike acne patients, rosacea patients may also developvisible blood vessels on their face, and the eyes can become involved.

WHAT ARE THE TRIGGERS?

The biggest key to controlling rosacea is to avoid triggers -- factors that cause the skin to flush. Identifying these factors is an individual process, however, because what causes a flare-upfor one person may have no effect on another. A good place to start is by looking at this list of common rosacea trigger factors that may affect various individuals.

Foods

• Liver
• Yogurt
• Sour cream
• Cheese (except cottage cheese)
• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Soy sauce
• Yeast extract (bread is OK)
• Vinegar
• Eggplant
• Avocados
• Spinach
• Broad-leaf beans and pods
• Citrus fruits, tomatoes, bananas, red plums, raisins or figs
• Spicy and thermally hot foods
• Foods high in histamine

Beverages

• Alcohol, especially red wine, beer, bourbon, gin, vodka or champagne
• Hot drinks

Temperature-related

• Excessively warm environments
• Saunas
• Hot baths
• Overheating

Medical conditions

• Frequent flushing
• Menopause
• Chronic cough
• Caffeine withdrawal syndrome

Emotional influences

• Stress
• Anxiety

Physical exertion

• Exercise
• "Lift and load" jobs

Skin care products

• Some cosmetics and hair sprays, especially those containing alcohol, witch hazel or fragrances
• Hydro-alcoholic or acetone substances
• Any substance that causes redness or stinging

Weather

• Sun
• Strong winds
• Cold
• Humidity

Burning And Stinging Are Neglected But Important Symptoms In Managing Rosacea

According to a study recently published in the European journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica on burning and/or stinging in individuals with rosacea, most guidelines for managing rosacea identify the primary objective as clearing the visible signs of rosacea, while unseen symptoms such as burning and stinging are not always addressed even though they add to patients’ burden of disease and lower quality of life.

Burning and stinging were common throughout all types of rosacea, in which at least 85% of individuals with bumps and pimples, 38% to 53% of those with ocular rosacea, and almost 14% of individuals with persistent facial redness and visible blood vessels reported burning or stinging as bothersome symptoms.

Neurovascular dysregulation and an altered immune response are both thought to be key elements involved in the development of the burning and stinging response. People with rosacea may have an increased density of transient receptor potential channels, a type of ion channel on cells that are involved in sensory reception, and activation can lead to experiences of flushing and burning pain.

The presence of Demodex mites on the face, known to be higher in those with rosacea than in people with healthy skin, may also play a role via a stimulated immune response and/or skin barrier damage leading to hypersensitivity. In addition, an impaired skin barrier may reduce resistance to irritants and allergens, and may contribute to the signs and symptoms of rosacea.

TREATMENTS

The primary goal of treatment is to control the redness, inflammation, and skin eruptions.

There are many different products on the market but it is beyond the scope of this blog to make particular recommendations. However, it is generally advisable to you use very mild skin cleansers which do not cause irritation and high-quality, oil-free cosmetics and moisturizers to help prevent irritation. Also, use a sunscreen with broad spectrum coverage (SPF 30 or higher for UVB protection and zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for UVA protection) to help prevent symptoms triggered by sunlight.

Standard medical treatment involves long-term treatment with oral antibiotics has been shown to control skin eruptions and curb the progression of rosacea. In most cases it can take months to see any improvement.

In more advanced cases, laser surgery may be used to eliminate visible blood vessels or excess skin tissue caused by rhinophyma.

HOW BIOMED CAN HELP

BioMed can helpthose with rosacea in various ways. For example, supporting the immune system with Bioregulatory medicines. Checking for any vitamin or nutrient deficiencies via computerised health screening. Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL), a popular, non-invasive treatment, can offer long-term improvements in the condition.

Some send sensory information, including details about smells, sights, tastes, and sounds, to the brain. These nerves have sensory functions. Other cranial nerves control the movement of various muscles and the function of certain glands. These are known as motor functions. While some cranial nerves have either sensory or motor functions, others have both. The vagus nerve is such a nerve.

The vagus nerve is a mixed nerve, which contains both sensory nerves, about 80%, which are nerves that receive sensory information from the body and send signals back to the central nervous system, and motor nerves, about 20%, eliciting actions, based on the information, to the organs it supplies nerves to. Gut reactions, like ‘butterflies in the stomach’ can be attributed to activation of the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve also oversees the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, sending messages of anxiety or calm to the brain. As a result, it is referred to as the “nerve of compassion,” as when it is toned, it sends feelings of warmth, love, and gratitude.

It gets its name from the Latin word “wandering”, meaning it literally wanders around the body attaching to the main organs, beginning at the base of the brain, dividing into two, it travels behind each ear, over the mastoid bone (the bone just behind the ear) and runs across the chest and down into the abdomen, with connections to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, heart, liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, reproductive organs, and small and large intestines.

The vagus nerve oversees a lot of crucial subconscious bodily functions, including heart rate, digestive function, immune response, and control of mood, as well as vasomotor activity (constriction or dilation of blood vessels), and certain reflex actions, such as coughing, sneezing, swallowing and vomiting.

The vagus nerve has also been shown to be involved in social engagement by allowing us to pick up on, or sense, other people’s emotional cues.

 STRESS AND THE VAGAL NERVE

Stress is a common factor to be explored and supported by anyone who is suffering from chronic illness. The stress response also known as the “fight, flight or freeze” response is activated anytime that we feel threatened, physically, mentally, or emotionally.

When we encounter stress, our body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, designed to support the body as an acute response to enable us to fight, flee or freeze, in any moment. This response is an adaptive safety response, designed to keep us safe when threatened, but when chronically activated, stress hormones can contribute to a variety of health problems such as digestive issues, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and many more.

Supporting the vagus nerve can help to counteract, or balance, the stress response enabling the body to rebalance and recover from the stressful encounter.

When the stress response is chronically activated, it can lead to low vagal tone, just like a muscle, the vagus nerve needs to be activated to maintain tone, so when a body has low vagal tone, the body then has a lower resilience to stress.

LOW VAGAL TONE

Low vagal tone can be linked to symptoms and conditions such as gastroparesis (food slow to pass through stomach - bloating and feeling full) small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), weight gain, mood disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, tinnitus, depression, slowed heart rate, palpitations, seizures, difficulty swallowing and fainting, among others.

Low vagal tone can also be associated with chronic inflammation because the vagus nerve plays a key role in the inflammatory response and immune system support. Vagal tone can be measured objectively by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), which is a measure of the time between each heartbeat, the more variable the time between each heartbeat is, the higher the HRV and the more resilient a body is. The lower the heart rate variability the lower the body’s resilience to stress and the less adaptive a body is to stress, so an individual may feel they have low resilience to stressful situations, both emotionally and physically.

WHAT CAUSES LOW VAGAL TONE?

As mentioned, chronic stress, which can either be psychological or emotional from stress or trauma, or physical, such as bodily injuries, like accidents, traumatic brain injuries, operations, neck and back injuries and even poor posture can contribute to low vagal tone.

Other factors include poor gut health, which could be as a result of infections, intestinal permeability, bacteria, viral and parasitic infections. Environmental toxins such as mould, heavy metals and environmental chemicals and toxins can also affect the vagal nerve. As can a diet consisting of low nutrient dense, highly processed, high sugar dietary foods, and poor sleep.

BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING THE VAGUS NERVE

Supporting the vagus nerve can help to counteract, or balance, the stress response, because the vagus nerve, when activated, activates states of rest, digest and repair.

Working with the body and working with the vagus nerve in practice can support vagal tone, supporting the body towards finding balance and towards recovery and optimal health.

This can be done in various ways, which can include the following:

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices

VNS devices, also known as TENS machines, are devices that can be applied to the skin and the device stimulates the vagus nerve transcutaneously (through the skin). Stimulating the vagus nerve can help to build vagal tone, helping the body to spend time in the parasympathetic rest, digest and detoxify state to support recovery.

Dietary and supplement interventions

Ensuring a whole food nutrient dense dietary intake to support inflammatory levels and support the anti-inflammatory dietary intake and supplementation such as omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, and beetroot juice have all been shown to have a supportive role.

Breathing practices

Practicing deep or belly breathing, so ensuring that you expand your belly and diaphragm when you breathe, as opposed to shallow chest breathing.

Positive social connections

Laughter (even forced belly laughter), and the true smile of happiness (Duchenne smile) have been shown to have a positive benefit on vagal tone and stress resilience. So, optimise spending time with those around you who make you laugh and smile.

Meditation

Meditation is a great way to improve vagal tone. Also singing, humming or OM chanting can also stimulate the vagus nerve at the back of the throat, together with gargling or using a tongue depressor to stimulate the gag reflex.

Cold therapy

Ice baths, or a cold shower on the back of your neck can be another way to improve vagal tone. This could be introduced by incorporating a short burst of cold water at the end of your shower, alternated with warm water, to build up tolerance.

IN SUMMARY

When it comes to recovery from any illness or symptoms, whether acute or chronic, its important to consider your stress response and how that has contributed to your health status. By supporting your vagus nerve and vagal tone you can send messages to your body that it’s safe, and that it’s time to relax and de-stress, to enable it to carry out all the necessary functions of optimal digestion, detoxification, growth and repair, which are all crucial when supporting a body to rebalance and return to optimal health.

The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge or honeycomb. This area is called trabecular bone. An outer shell of dense bone wraps around the spongy bone. This hard shell is called cortical bone.

When osteoporosis occurs, the ‘holes’ in the ‘sponge’ grow larger and more numerous, causing the bone to lose strength and density. In addition, the outside of the bone grows weaker and thinner.

Although your bones are very strong, they are living tissues that are constantly being broken down and replaced. Up until your early 20s, your body has the ability to make new bone faster than it breaks down old bone tissue. But this process slows down as you age. Old bone tissue can break down faster than it is created, resulting in osteoporosis.

People with osteoporosis are at a higher risk of fractures, or bone breaks, while doing routine activities such as standing or walking. The most commonly affected bones are the hip, spinal vertebrae, and some peripheral joints, such as the wrist. Osteoporosis can occur in people of any age, but it’s more common in older adults, especially women. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, it affects 21.2 percent of women over age 50 and 6.3 percent of men over the same age across the world.

OSTEOPOROSIS SYMPTOMS

As osteoporosis develops slowly, in most cases, people with osteoporosis don’t know they have the condition until they experience a fracture or break after a minor incident, such as a fall. Even a cough or sneeze can cause a break in osteoporotic bones.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LATER STAGE OSTEOPOROSIS

Once bone mass has deteriorated further, you may start to experience more obvious symptoms, such as:

Loss of height - compression fractures in the spine can cause you to become shorter. This is one of the most noticeable symptoms of osteoporosis.

Fracture from a fall - a fracture is one of the most common signs of fragile bones. Fractures can occur with a fall or from minor movement such as stepping off a curb. Some osteoporosis fractures can even be triggered by a strong sneeze or cough.

Back or neck pain - osteoporosis can cause compression fractures of the spine. These fractures can be very painful because the collapsed vertebrae may pinch the nerves that radiate out from the spinal cord. The pain symptoms can range from minor tenderness to debilitating pain.

Stooped posture - the compression of the vertebrae may also cause a slight curving of the upper back. A stooped back is known as kyphosis, which can cause back and neck pain. It can even affect breathing due to the extra pressure on the airway and limited expansion of your lungs.

Common risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• older age
• going through menopause before age 45
• having ovaries removed before age 45
• having low testosterone in men
• having low oestrogen in women
• taking certain medications that decrease hormone levels
• smoking cigarettes
• having a family history of osteoporosis
• drinking alcohol frequently
• not getting enough regular physical activity, particularly weight-bearing exercise like walking

Certain medical conditions may also increase your risk for osteoporosis.

These include:

• some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
• Cushing’s syndrome, an adrenal gland disorder
• pituitary gland disorders
• hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism
• a shortage of oestrogen or testosterone
• problems with mineral absorption, such as inflammatory bowel disease or coeliac disease
• vitamin D deficiency

May affect bone strength, but more research is needed

• diabetes
• HIV (AIDS)
• liver disease
• cystic fibrosis
• dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• sickle cell disease
• some cancers

PREVENTION

From a young age, both men and women, particularly those with known higher risks of osteoporosis and fractures in later life, can use preventive lifestyle measures, nutrition and supplements to reduce the risks.

These include:

• have a healthy and varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains
• eat calcium-rich foods
• absorb enough vitamin D – get some sun - exposure of some skin to the sun needs to occur on most days of the week to allow enough vitamin D production
• avoid smoking - smokers have lower bone density than non-smokers
• limit alcohol consumption - excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis
• limit caffeine - excessive caffeine can affect the amount of calcium that our body absorbs
• do regular weight-bearing and strength-training activities.

Calcium and vitamin D

Calcium, which is essential for healthy bones, can be stored by the body. So whilst it is not vital to consume the recommended amount every day, it is important to average the daily nutrient intake over time.

The Osteoporosis Society recommends adults over 19 should have a daily calcium intake of 700mg (and women who are breastfeeding need an extra 550mg a day). According to the British Dietetic Association, this should be increased to 1200mg for post-menopausal females and males over 55.

Dietary sources include:

• dairy foods, such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt
• green leafy vegetables, such as kale and broccoli
• fish with soft bones, such as tinned salmon and tuna
• fortified breakfast cereals

Vitamin D also plays a key role in preventing osteoporosis as it helps the body absorb calcium. Your body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, but it’s difficult to get the recommended 10 micrograms a day from the UK sun between October and March. The NHS recommends everyone over the age of five considers taking a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D during these months, or all-year-round if your exposure to sunlight is limited.

TREATMENT - HOW CAN BIOMED HELP?

Establishing your individual requirements is an essential part of optimising your health.

This is where BioMed can help. We offer Bioresonance and Quantum Analysis Screening service which analyses all your body’s different systems, creating a report which highlights any deficiencies or imbalances. This is particularly important if you have concerns regarding osteoporosis as any lack of the nutrients vital to healthy bones, as mentioned above, can be identified and addressed.

Following the screening an individualised Health Plan can then be created. This may include recommending vitamins and/or supplements, Bioregulatory remedies and various other treatments.

BioMed works with you every step of the way, monitoring your progress to optimise

the benefits of any treatments and lifestyle changes you make.

BOOK a consultation NOW with Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed,

to discuss your health matters.

Our blood sugar dips and we might feel hunger, cravings, shakiness, light-headedness or tingling in the hands and feet. This is a common and reversible condition called reactive hypoglycaemia.

If you’re prone to crashes, doctors might suggest you snack every few hours to ensure your glucose doesn’t drop too low. Snacking on highly processed and sweet foods can cause your glucose levels to shoot back up again, triggering the release of insulin. However, this can actually make the problem worse as it can then precipitate another crash.

Usually, when insulin ushers glucose out of the blood after a spike, it does so gradually, bringing glucose levels steadily to a fasting level. But sometimes the pancreas releases too much insulin, which means more glucose is stashed away, and blood sugar levels can crash below normal for a while.

WHY AVOIDING SPIKES MATTERS

Numerous studies show repeated glucose spikes can affect everything from our mood, our sleep, our weight and our skin to the health of our immune system and the risk of heart disease.

Short term, you might notice hunger, cravings, fatigue, more extreme menopause symptoms, migraine, poor sleep and brain fog. In the long-term, see-sawing glucose levels contribute to signs of ageing and to the development of conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

BENEFITS OF CHANGING EATING HABITS TO FLATTEN THE CURVE

Changing the way we eat can avoid spikes and flatten our glucose curve. With smaller spikes, you’ll release less insulin and suffer smaller dips. The body will also learn to not expect starchy and sweet snacks every few hours and, with less insulin around, will start burning fat reserves for fuel.

Glucose spikes lead to hormonal imbalances that can wreak havoc on libido. Add that to the fact that glucose highs and lows also trigger a lack of energy, poor sleep and depressive moods, and you can see why steadying your glucose levels and avoiding the spikes can greatly improve your sex life.

Other factors impact the glucose curves, too. Any one food can create a completely different blood glucose response in different people. This is because the speed at which you convert that food into glucose, and your body’s response to rising glucose levels, might depend on the amount of baseline insulin you have naturally.

This can be affected by your muscle mass (the more muscles you have to draw glucose out of your blood) and also populations of gut microbes (some guts break down food or release chemical messengers more effectively).

It also depends on whether you are well hydrated or dehydrated, how tired or stressed you are (both can trigger the release of stress hormones that affect metabolism), or if you were active.

Studies have even found that if you think you’re about to eat something sugary, your body helpfully sets off various chemical cascades in anticipation, which can trigger a bigger spike than if you weren’t expecting to be offered a biscuit.

If you do give in to a sweet treat, particularly if eating it on an empty stomach, there are ways to reduce the impact on your glucose levels.

Eat a hard-boiled egg, a handful of nuts, a few spoonfuls of 5 per cent fat Greek yoghurt or a head of broccoli before the cake or biscuit. Or use your muscles and move within the next hour. Go for a walk or do some squats.

Your muscles will happily take up excess glucose as it arrives in your bloodstream, and you’ll lessen the glucose spike, reduce the likelihood of weight gain, and avoid an energy slump.

WHAT TO HAVE FOR BREAKFAST

If your breakfast is sweet, then you will be heading towards the biggest spike of the day, followed by a huge surge of insulin which will trigger an energy slump and cravings.

Studies show the effect is worst first thing in the morning, when we have been ‘fasting’ all night and our body is at its most sensitive to glucose. Our stomach is empty, so anything that lands in it will be digested extremely quickly.

Sugary breakfasts - croissants, granola, pastries, sweetened porridge, ‘breakfast’ biscuits, fruit juice, Pop-Tarts, fruit smoothies, acai bowls or banana bread — composed mostly of sugar and starch and contain a lot of glucose - deregulate your glucose levels. Big glucose spikes can impair memory and cognitive function.

The higher the spike, the more intense the crash will be. With a big spike, you will set off a chain reaction of cravings, hunger and lagging energy right through until the evening. That sugary breakfast so badly deregulates your glucose levels that lunch and dinner are also likely to create big spikes.

An ideal breakfast for steady glucose levels contains a good amount of protein, fibre, fat and optional starch and fruit (which would be eaten last).

Choose your breakfast well, and you will feel better throughout the day — with more energy, curbed cravings, a better mood and clearer skin.

The first signs are often problems with movement, although many individuals notice that their handwriting may be getting smaller or voice softer many years before their diagnosis. Swallowing is also a key issue for many individuals as well as constipation.

In Parkinson’s Disease, brain cells in the substantia nigra start to die. The substantia nigra is a critical brain region for the production of dopamine, a neurochemical which affects many systems of the central nervous system ranging from movement control, cognitive executive functions, and emotional limbic activity. When the levels of dopamine are significantly reduced, symptoms start to appear.

No one knows exactly why you develop Parkinson’s Disease, although it is normally a combination of the following factors: genetics, environmental factors (such as physical trauma and toxin exposure), compromised detoxification, inflammation and cellular stress.

CAN NUTRITION HELP PARKINSON’S DISEASE?

Absolutely – and this is because nutrition can help support the cellular and physiological pathways that are involved in Parkinson’s Disease.

For example, dopamine is made from the protein building block – tyrosine- which is an amino acid. The same pathway is also involved in making thyroid hormones. Hence, it is important to ensure you are obtaining sufficient protein in your diet, and to assess thyroid function, when you have Parkinson’s Disease.

Nutrient co-factors (vitamins and minerals) are required for every stage of dopamine production. Dopamine is also converted into adrenaline in the body, which helps you manage stress. This conversion is also dependent on certain vitamin and mineral coenzymes, copper and vitamin C as well as the enzyme dopamine β hydroxylase.

NUTRITION GUIDELINES

Your diet should be tailored to your specific requirements, as there are certain dietary changes that are important to implement step by step, as well as to take into account your specific symptoms, such as constipation or swallowing issues.

Three general and helpful nutrition guidelines include:

As dopamine is made from protein, it is essential to obtain adequate protein from the following foods: fish, eggs, chicken, nuts, seeds and legumes.

Increasing vegetable intake, as they are good sources of fibre and water (especially, to keep your bowel movements regular) and vitamins and minerals essential for enzymes to work in your body.

Eating as much organic food as possible (as this lowers exposure to pesticides and herbicides)

What foods should Parkinson’s patients avoid?

Some individuals benefit greatly from cutting out dairy and gluten, especially where constipation is an issue. As foods containing sugars (e.g. cakes, pastries and white refined carbohydrates such as white bread) can contribute to inflammation in the body and compete for intracellular Vitamin C absorption, they should also be avoided.

There are many supplements that support someone with Parkinson’s Disease, such as B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin C. It is always best to test and not guess.

HOW CAN BIOMED HELP?

Establishing your individual requirements for key nutrients is an essential part of optimising your health and neurological function. Many individuals are deficient in vital nutrients for cellular health, such as B vitamins required for energy production and neurological functioning.

This is where BioMed can help. We offer  Bioresonance Screening service which analyses all your body’s different systems, creating a report which highlights any deficiencies or imbalances. This is especially important if you have concerns regarding the possibility of developing Parkinson’s Disease.

Following the screening an individualised Health Plan can then be created. This may include recommending vitamins and/or supplements, Bioregulatory remedies or various other treatments.

BioMed works with you every step of the way, monitoring your progress to optimise the benefits of any treatments and lifestyle changes you make.

BOOK a consultation NOW with Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, to discuss your health matters.

These techniques have been shown to have a wide range of benefits.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATIVE PRACTICE

Meditation is a practice that can be done daily in the comfort of your own home and brought into your daily life. It can support other therapies, both psychological therapies or therapies aiming to resolve trauma, and therapies aimed at bringing resolution of physical symptoms.

STRESS

Health problems often have several underlying drivers, stress in particular being a trigger in chronic physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, autoimmune disease and poor immune function.

Since meditation can reduce stress, there are benefits which can help in many chronic physical conditions including:

• Insomnia
• Chronic pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Prevention of heart disease
• Chronic inflammation
• Prevention of acute respiratory infections such as the common cold
• High blood pressure
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Psoriasis
• Addiction

There is also strong research indicating that meditation benefits depression and anxiety.

MEDITATION - WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR BRAIN?

An extract taken from a scholarly article by Tom Sokolowski* examines awareness from a neurological perspective and as it applies to the practice of meditation aiming to enhance the many promises that it embodies.

“Meditative therapies may enhance not only the creation of new neuronal networks but also stimulate the corresponding creation of new dimensions of awareness, both quantitative and qualitative.

Neuronal circuitry is activated in meditation, yet, one other network is needed to make this happen, and wilfulness is this essential ingredient. Gentle sustained wilfulness activates neuronal circuitry, which is highly developed in humans and mainly resides in the brain’s frontal lobes and its connections. The partnership and synergism linking these two networks form the crux of meditation’s contribution to awareness expansion.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MEDITATION IS CONSISTENTLY PRACTISED?

In light of the discovery showing the capacity of neuronal generation, is it possible to incite awareness’ neuronal networks to expand its brain demographics? Can the voluntary arousal of awareness, as in meditation, increase the neurone population, the sum total of its connectivity and therefore the energetic output of awareness neurons?

Research shows that meditation can indeed alter the morphology of selected brain components.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS?

Can mental mechanisms engage awareness networks, stimulate neuronal connectivity, or even neurogenesis?(the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain).What happens to the experiencing of awareness when its physical components are transformed through meditation?

The term meditation therapies implies that techniques in meditation have the capacity to redress disharmonies of wellbeing. Indeed, this is so. Numerous studies have reported on meditation’s therapeutic actions in a spectrum of psychological conditions. Meditation therapies also show beneficial influence on the body’s functioning. Of particular interest are meditative studies of cardiac reactivity, the tendency of the cardiovascular system to become nefariously activated in response to stress. This type of research is, in essence, symbolic of the calming effects of meditation on autonomic nervous system networks. Meditation therapies address dysphoric symptomatology. (A person with dysphoria often experiences profound uneasiness and dissatisfaction with life, followed by depression, anxiety and agitation).

Symptoms relative to anxiety, in the anxiety/apprehension/fear/worry spectrum, are the first to be mollified. The meditator is often surprised that formerly gripping anxieties gradually dispel and that new vistas of relaxation are revealed. Learnt experientially is that relaxation has many subjective layers. Seemingly limitless in their reach. Also assuaged by meditation therapies is the irritability/anger/aggression spectrum. Angers can be dissolved with consistent meditation as are the unfortunate sequelae that derive from them. New landscapes of peacefulness are opened. Also bolstered by meditation is the self-esteem/self-image/self-confidence dimension. Distressing feelings that connect to this dimension have to do with the mind’s tendency to compare self with others. Feelings of inadequacy give way to new perceptions of personal centredness and social equipoise.

Especially pertinent to meditation therapies is their capacity to highlight the immediacy of life. The empathy/sensitivity/love spectrum is involved. Meditators find themselves with new capabilities to capture the intensity of interpersonal contact, to resonate with others emotionally and project expressions of goodwill, friendship, and love. In the context of meditation there often begins an awakening to the fact that awareness of one’s awareness is a reckoning of the existence of fundamental life energy, and with it, a revelation that this energy and conceptually, spirit – is not only always positive but also profoundly immutable. Revelations often feature the fact that awareness nature is ever more fundamental than awareness content. Meditation therapies invite the development of dimensions of the psyche that correspond to higher, if not the highest of personal aspirations. They open portals to experiencing states of mind that ordinarily surpass us, belonging to the domains of the ‘over self’.

CONCLUSION ABOUT CONSTANT MEDITATION

Techniques that develop heightened awareness between mind and body can easily complement contemporary psychotherapies. In fact, to be maximally effective, psychotherapies need to be integrated into the body’s networks. Meditation is a generic term for a variety of techniques that centre on the activation of awareness. Sustained priming of awareness independently leads positive personal transformations, in the psychological, the psychosomatic, and the transcendent dimension of being.

Research has shown that consistent meditation correlates with action and measurable physical modifications in the nervous system. In turn, awareness tends to shift towards relaxation, psychological harmony, organ balance, and importantly, towards states of experiencing that, like a staircase ascending, invite novel realisations of the self.”

* Tom Sokolowski is a specialist in gut complaints, cognitive function, psychological health and neurodegenerative conditions, cardiometabolic health, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, toxicity and fertility.

Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, as part of her newly developed Fatigue Recovery Formula, has created  a module on mindfulness which offers a wide range of meditation techniques. Please follow the LINK

It is responsible for detoxing, creating vitamins, digesting foods and regulating the immune system amongst others.

We have different microbes that reside in the lungs, skin, vagina etc and each collection of microbes are unique to each person. Just like each person has a unique and individual fingerprint, each person will also have a unique microbiome in each of those areas too.

In the human body, we have around 30 trillion human cells, our microbiome has an estimated 39 trillion cells that live in us, so the effect they have on us can be huge.

It has also been estimated that our microbiome weighs anything between 2-6 Pounds!

WHERE DOES THE GUT MICROBIOME COME FROM?

We inherit our initial microbiome from our mother and as we are birthed and go through the birth canal.                     

Also, the foods we eat, the amount of time we spend outdoors and our emotions, in the first 2 years of life, create our core microbiome. As we grow our environment, our emotions and stresses all effect the balance of microbes in our gut and body.

WHAT DOES THE GUT MICROBIOME DO?

Our gut microbiome is responsible for many things like detoxing, creating vitamins, digesting foods and regulating the immune system. They even help synthesise your happy hormone – serotonin. Did you know that up to 90% of serotonin is made in the GUT AND not the brain? We have bacteria in the gut that can be the cause of oestrogen dominance, anxiety, depression and more.

YOUR MICROBIOME AND TESTING

For diagnostic and general health purposes BioMed Natural Health Clinic can offer different gut tests to look at your microbiome. The test we recommend initially is a stool test. This gives us information about:

• How well you are digesting your foods
• Inflammation in the gut
• Your microbiome. This includes good bacteria, problematic bacteria, parasites, yeast etc
• Leaky gut

It can not only look at the microbes that should not be there but whether you have enough of the good guys too. By looking at the results there’s a lot that can be done to improve things. What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut, it has a systematic effect throughout the body and so being able to support the gut as much as possible is important for gut health, hormonal health, mental health, healthy ageing, cardiovascular health and more.

There isn’t an area that is not effected by the gut and so supporting it as much as possible is so important. We also know that some microbes in the gut have been linked to specific autoimmune conditions. Autoimmunity is an imbalance in the immune system and with up to 80% of the immune system being in the gut you can see how important it is to support it.

 HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR MICROBIOME

Up to 80% of our immune system resides in the gut and therefore supporting the microbiome has a huge impact on immune health. There are a variety of ways in which we can support the microbiome:

Diet

Include 30 different types of plant foods in your diet each week. Plant foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, teas, spices, legumes, beans and grains.

Include different types of the same foods. For example, brown rice and black rice are considered different foods as they feed different microbes in the gut. This goes for all foods, for example, including different coloured peppers (red, yellow, green), different coloured apples, different types of banana etc. Good gut health is about diversity and therefore including as many different types of plant foods will feed different microbes in the gut and allow them to grow.

Also

• Going outside in nature – you can breathe in your microbiome from the trees and plants
• Reduce stress as much as possible as it has a negative effect on your microbiome
• Get a pet! Studies have shown having a pet has a positive effect on your microbiome
• Sleep has been associated with a positive effect on your microbiome and lack sleep can have a negative effect
• Being consistent and eating at the same time daily has also shown positive effects

Here at the BioMed Natural Health Clinic, we offer a specialised testing service that can help support not only gut health but overall health via supporting the gut microbiome.

Please contact us for more information or to BOOK a consultation.

This damage is most often caused by abnormally high pressure, called intraocular pressure, in the eye.

The fluid inside the eye, called aqueous humor, usually flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. If this channel becomes blocked, or the eye is producing too much fluid, the liquid builds up, causing the pressure to increase.

Experts do not always know what causes the blockage. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 60 and tends to run in families.

Less-common causes of glaucoma include a blunt or chemical injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blocked blood vessels inside the eye, and inflammatory conditions. It’s rare, but eye surgery to correct another condition can sometimes bring it on. It usually affects both eyes, but it may be worse in one than the other.

Though most types of glaucoma cannot be prevented, early detection and ongoing monitoring of eye health is key when it comes to managing and limiting the vision loss caused by the disease.   

WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS OF GLAUCOMA?

Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage.

Because vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered, it's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have the condition, you'll generally need treatment for the rest of your life.

SYMPTOMS

Glaucoma does not usually have any discernible symptoms to begin with. It tends to develop slowly over many years and affects the edges of your vision (peripheral vision) first. For this reason, many people do not realise they have glaucoma, and it's often only picked up during a routine eye test.

If you do notice any symptoms, they might include blurred vision, or seeing rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights. Both eyes are usually affected, although it may be worse in 1 eye.

Very occasionally, glaucoma can develop suddenly and cause:

• Intense eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• A red eye
• Headache
• Tenderness around the eye

GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSIS

Glaucoma tests are painless and don’t take long. Your optometrist or eye doctor will test your vision. They’ll use drops to widen (dilate) your pupils and examine your eyes. They’ll check your optic nerve for signs of glaucoma. They may take photographs so they can spot changes at your next visit. They’ll do a test called tonometry to check your eye pressure.

A normal result means your eye pressure is within the normal range. The normal eye pressure range is 10 to 21 mm Hg. The thickness of your cornea can affect measurements. Normal eyes with thick corneas have higher readings, and normal eyes with thin corneas have lower readings. Normal intraocular pressure helps support the shape of the eye, which in turn supports the 2 million parts of the eye that help you see.

A visual field test is usually also carried out to see if you have lost any peripheral vision.

TYPES OF GLAUCOMA INCLUDE:

Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease. The drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris remains open, but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked. This causes pressure in the eye to gradually increase. This pressure damages the optic nerve. It happens so slowly that you may lose vision before you're even aware of a problem.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma, also called closed-angle glaucoma, occurs when the iris bulges forward to narrow or block the drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris. As a result, fluid can't circulate through the eye and pressure increases. Some people have narrow drainage angles, putting them at increased risk of angle-closure glaucoma.

Angle-closure glaucoma may occur suddenly (acute angle-closure glaucoma) or gradually (chronic angle-closure glaucoma). Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency.

Normal-tension glaucoma

In normal-tension glaucoma, your optic nerve becomes damaged even though your eye pressure is within the normal range. No one knows the exact reason for this. You may have a sensitive optic nerve, or you may have less blood being supplied to your optic nerve. This limited blood flow could be caused by atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in the arteries — or other conditions that impair circulation.

Glaucoma in children

It's possible for infants and children to have glaucoma. It may be present from birth or develop in the first few years of life. The optic nerve damage may be caused by drainage blockages or an underlying medical condition.

Pigmentary glaucoma

In pigmentary glaucoma, pigment granules from your iris build up in the drainage channels, slowing or blocking fluid exiting your eye. Activities such as jogging sometimes stir up the pigment granules, depositing them on the trabecular meshwork and causing intermittent pressure elevations.

RISK FACTORS

Your age, ethnicity, family history and some medical conditions can increase your chances of getting glaucoma.

Because chronic forms of glaucoma can destroy vision before any signs or symptoms are apparent, be aware of these risk factors:

• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Being over age 60
• Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anaemia
• Having corneas that are thin in the centre
• Being extremely nearsighted or farsighted
• Having had an eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
• Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, for a long time
• Are of African American, Irish, Russian, Japanese, Hispanic, Inuit, or Scandinavian descent

PREVENTION

EAT A HEALTHY DIET

• Eating a healthy and balanced diet is helpful when managing your eye pressure. If you have issues balancing your blood sugar levels, it can affect your eye pressure.
• To help lower your blood sugar levels, you should reduce your sugar and carbs.
• Improving your diet will not only help your eye pressure but your general health too.
• Eating a healthy diet means that you’re getting all the proper nutrients your body needs. This includes foods rich in vitamins A, E, and C and fatty acids since they are good for your eye health.

Examples of foods to eat include salmon, nuts and dark leafy greens.

SUPPLEMENTS

Lutein  Zeaxanthin and Meso-zeaxanthin.

There is a huge amount of research which suggests that lutein and zeaxanthin are the most important nutrients for eye health, to protect against and reduce the progression of eye conditions such as glaucoma and age–related macular degeneration and to protect the sight of healthy individuals too.

These powerful antioxidant nutrients cannot be made in the body and therefore must be supplied by the food we eat. Together they form macular pigment, which helps to protect the eyes against the damaging effects of blue light.

SELF CARE

These self-care steps can detect glaucoma in its early stages, which is important in preventing vision loss or slowing its progress.

Get regular dilated eye examinations. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help detect glaucoma in its early stages, before significant damage occurs.

Reduce your caffeine intake. Drinking high levels of caffeine is connected to higher eye pressure. If you like to drink several cups of coffee per day or energy drinks, you need to reduce the amount you drink.

Know your family's eye health history. Glaucoma tends to run in families. If you're at increased risk, you may need more frequent screening.

Exercise safely. Regular, moderate exercise may help prevent glaucoma by reducing eye pressure.

Relaxation techniques. Stress may trigger an attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma. If you're at risk of this condition, find healthy ways to cope with stress. Meditation and other techniques may help.

Take prescribed eyedrops regularly. Glaucoma eyedrops can significantly reduce the risk that high eye pressure will progress to glaucoma.

Wear eye protection. Serious eye injuries can lead to glaucoma. Wear eye protection when using power tools or playing high-speed racket sports in enclosed courts.

USUAL MEDICAL TREATMENTS

It is not possible to reverse any loss of vision that occurred before glaucoma was diagnosed. However, if it’s detected early enough, treatments can help stop your vision getting worse.

The treatment recommended for you will depend on the type of glaucoma you have, but the options include:

• Eye drops – to reduce the pressure in your eyes - lowering eye pressure can help you keep the sight you have
• Laser treatment – to open up the blocked drainage tubes or reduce the production of fluid in your eyes
• Surgery – to improve the drainage of fluid

Most people with glaucoma who follow their treatment plan and have regular eye exams are able to keep their vision.

HOW BIOMED CAN HELP

Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, focuses on your overall health and wellbeing, treating the body as a series of systems which need to be in balance for optimum health.

Following an assessment, using Computerised Health Screening if appropriate, any health concerns, along with possible vitamin deficiencies or systems imbalances, can be addressed.

Claudia will formulate a personalise Health Plan to fit your individual profile. This may combine a variety of treatments, nutritional supplementation and/or Bioregulatory Medicine, and lifestyle changes. 

 BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW

SUI incontinence can occur when you have a weak pelvic floor or sphincter muscle, and increased pressure is placed on your bladder.

It is a common problem in the female population with prevalence rates varying between 10% and 55% in 15- to 64-year-old women.

Causes

Common causes of SUI include pregnancy, childbirth, chronic coughing, surgical procedures, menopause, certain types of physical exercise and obesity.

SUI and athletes

As many as 45% of elite athletes, including runners and triathletes, experience SUI during sport activity.

Several studies have documented that young women, especially those practising high impact sports, are considered to be at greater risk for developing SUI. 

SUI in athletes is related to how frequently athletes are subjected to increased intra-abdominal pressure, which is caused by a contraction of the abdominal muscles in high-impact activities without proper awareness and strengthening of the perineal muscles.

Strenuous physical activity that involves intra-abdominal pressure can overload and chronically damage the perineum (including the periurethral striated muscle), thus decreasing the contraction strength of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and increasing the risk for SUI.

PFM

The Pelvic floor is divided into three layers – superficial, middle and deep. These muscles have 4 main functions: support, bowel/bladder control, sexual function, stability.

The middle layer, known as the urogenital diaphragm, helps to compress and close the urethra, much like a hose.

The deepest layer of the pelvic floor muscles is known as the pelvic diaphragm. These muscles play a smaller role in urinary continence control and function more to support the pelvic organs and help balance intra-abdominal pressure. The muscles of the pelvic diaphragm are designed for endurance. When working properly, they help triathletes stay balanced and supported with sport activity.

The diaphragm, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles work as a team to balance intra-abdominal pressure. When one muscle group is over-used or over-developed, imbalances may occur. With imbalances, the muscles of the urethra cannot “keep the hose closed” and incontinence may result.

Some activities that may affect this balance include: upper abdominal exercises such as crunches and sit-ups, running, jumping, breath holding with physical activity, prolonged sitting on a bike.

One of the misconceptions of SUI is that to prevent leakage while running is that you need to be contracting your pelvic floor the entire time. The pelvic floor is a dynamic group of muscles, which must load and lengthen to absorb the force downward with high impact loading. Imagine a trampoline that is sprung too tightly. If you jump on it, there is no bounce. Holding the pelvic floor muscles in a state of contraction has the same effect. Two potential dysfunctions may result: the pelvic floor muscles will give up, resulting in incontinence, or they may become chronically stiff hypertonic and could lead to pain.

When running the goal should not be about tightening the pelvic floor but controlling the loading and the impact on the muscles. Bad running posture may shift a lot of unnecessary weight onto the pelvic floor muscles and organs, creating imbalance. Keeping the abdominals tightly braced while running will also increase intra-abdominal pressure and excessively load the pelvic floor muscles. Breathing properly allows the diaphragm to expand and can dramatically decrease the abnormal pressure on the pelvic floor. With the proper muscle balance good alignment, and breathing, triathletes can minimize the risk of SUI with sport activity.

Learning how to incorporate these muscles’ actions into your existing workouts may be very helpful to prevent incontinence. If you are already experiencing symptoms, BioMed can help.

Treatment

Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone and the severity varies depending on the age, cause, and type of urinary incontinence. Living with incontinence can pose many challenges. The condition can cause you to limit the life you once had - foregoing social events, distancing yourself from family and friends, and even missing days of work. So, it comes as no surprise that workouts may also be affected. In fact, studies have shown that up to 20% of women have reported quitting their physical activities due to incontinence. Experiencing leakage when running or doing certain types of exercise is very common, but it’s not normal. Most cases of urinary incontinence can be cured or controlled with appropriate treatment. You shouldn’t have to live with incontinence, and the good news is you don’t have to. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating SUI.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, often referred to as PRP therapy, may help women with problems controlling their flow of urine by tightening their vaginal tissue and rebuilding their body’s own natural collagen. This all-natural procedure is relatively simple, pain free and with no side effects.

The PRP Process

When you receive PRP therapy, the first thing that will happen is that a blood sample is drawn which is then spun in an FDA-approved centrifuge, isolating the beneficial platelets.

Once separated, this platelet-rich blood is injected back into the body into the areas of concern. This process is designed to help women with not only SUI but also a variety of other issues, from lack of sexual desire to the inability to have an orgasm during sex.

PRP and the menopause

‘The change’, ‘the time of life’ – call it what you will, it is an unavoidable fact that almost all women go through the menopause.

However, for many women this natural process can be a time of anxiety and distress due to the various symptoms that can accompany it. The menopause is caused by a change in the balance of the body's hormones. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51. But around 1 in 100 women experience the menopause before 40 years of age. Most women will experience some symptoms during the menopause. The duration and severity of these symptoms varies from woman to woman.

Some women breeze through the whole thing and hardly notice it's happening. Four in five, however, will experience some symptoms which may include:

• Hot flushes – short, sudden feelings of heat, usually in the face, neck and chest, which can make your skin red and sweaty
• Joint stiffness, aches and pains
• Reduced muscle mass
• Weak bladder
• Night sweats – hot flushes that occur at night
• Difficulty sleeping – this may make you feel tired and irritable during the day
• Reduced sex drive (libido)
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex

After the menopause the ovaries make less oestrogen. The lack of oestrogen can lead to thinning of the tissues of the vagina and a reduction in the number of glands that make mucus. At least half of women experience vaginal dryness. The genital area may also change in appearance.

Many women have difficulty managing their symptoms and struggle to find support.

Why not consider O-Shot PRP Therapy?

Quite often HRT, with all it’s known side effects, or other, less effective alternative remedies, may be offered for the relief of menopausal symptoms. Completely natural and risk free, the O-Shot could be just the answer you are looking for. The procedure is quick, (takes about 20 mins) and painless, with no negative side effects, only positives.

Additional Support

Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, treats the body as a series of systems which need to be in balance for optimum health, so, in addition to PRP, she offers support according to the type of sport or training in which you participate. Following an assessment of your individual personal profile, Claudia will formulate a Health Plan which may combine nutritional supplementation and/or Bioregulatory medicines. Using this integrated approach achieves speedier physical and mental recovery, enabling you to get back to your active lifestyle.

Book a consultation now

There are many factors that affect your mental wellbeing, and one of the most significant is a group of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that directly influence how you think and feel.

Neurotransmitters are defined as a group of chemical agents released by neurons They act as chemical messengers, passing signals from one nerve cell to another, linking the brain and spinal cord to muscles, organs, and glands. Neurotransmitters also interact with specific sites called receptors located throughout the brain to regulate emotions, memory, cognitive function, attention span, energy, appetite, cravings, sensitivity to pain, and sleep patterns.

There are many different types of neurotransmitters, each with their own unique functions. Dopamine, for example, creates feelings of energy and vitality, whilst serotonin is crucial for balanced mood, peace and calm. The level and efficiency of neurotransmitters is directly linked to your mental and emotional wellbeing..

Deficiency or poor functioning of any one or a number of neurotransmitters can soon have a negative impact on behaviour and quality of life and can create a vast amount of health issues.

For example:

• Anxiety
• Addiction
• Behavioural disturbances
• Cognitive disorders
• Diseases (Such as Parkinson’s)
• Fatigue
• Hormonal imbalances
• Mood disorders
• Obesity
• Pain

Key nutrients can help to naturally support neurotransmitter balance and optimal function. If you think you could do with a bit of a boost though, it’s important to first identify which areas need extra help

Neurotransmitters - Main Types and Functions

Dopaminergic neurotransmitters - ‘energy and vitality’:

Dopamine - is needed for walking and balance, for motivation, attention, and reward / goal directed behaviour. Dopamine acts to reinforce behaviours that make you feel good.

Noradrenaline - is the neurotransmitter that gets the brain and body ready for action.

Adrenaline - is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response generated in stressful situations.

Serotonergic neurotransmitters - ‘relaxation and healthy state of mind’:

Serotonin - is involved in mood, appetite and sleep. It is the neurotransmitter of calmness and patience, helps us to cope with stress and frustration, and helps to limit aggression. It also has some cognitive functions, including memory and learning.

Melatonin - is crucial for regulating the sleep-wake cycle. It is produced in the pineal gland, and levels are at their highest between 12am and 3am.

Neurotransmitter balance is key for mental and emotional wellbeing

If you think your mental and emotional wellbeing is a bit under par and could do with a bit of extra support you can use the simple test to identify the area where you most need help and supplement with targeted nutrients to give your brain a natural boost.

Simple test to identify neurotransmitter imbalance

Dopamine Pathway - Energy & Vitality

• I have restless sleep
• I need caffeine / energy drinks to start the day
• I struggle to begin tasks
• I feel tired before starting tasks
• I have difficulty waking in the morning
• I have little interest in hobbies and activities
• I have a low motivation for love & sex
• I am not working on any new projects
• I have difficulty concentrating, or difficulty following my train of thought
• I feel tired / sad
• I have lacked vitality & dynamism for some time
• I feel less creative and imaginative than previously
• I have difficulty finding words

If you mostly agree with the statements above, it is likely that your dopamine pathway may need a bit of extra support.

Key nutrients to support the dopamine pathway: L-Tyrosine Folate , Rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng

Serotonin Pathway - ‘Relaxation & Healthy State of Mind’

• I am irritable, impulsive and quick to anger
• I am impatient
• I feel both depressed and agitated
• I experience sugar cravings towards the end of the day
• I consume alcohol in the evenings to help me relax
• I struggle to stay calm & stand back
• I have trouble getting to sleep
• I am often awake at 3am
• My thoughts are often agitated, even at night
• I am highly sensitive to stress & noise
• My mood changes quickly
• I feel inner nervous tension, abdominal pain, digestive discomfort and/or muscle pain
• I often feel ‘on edge’
• I am prone to migraines and sensitive to light

If you mostly agree with the statements above, it is likely that your serotonin pathway may need a bit of extra support.

Key nutrients to support the serotonin pathway: L-Tryptophan, Magnesium, 5-HTP Saffron

Claudia Carrillo, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, is happy to recommend Nutri Advanced

as a reliable and trustworthy supplier for all your supplement needs. The company is a family owned and run business set up in 1981 by a progressive leading

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The best way to experience the full range of benefits would be to shop directly and place your orders on their website.

To do this - register as my patient and enter my account number when prompted. Account name - Claudia Carrillo - Account No 3067651.

You will then automatically receive 10% discount on all your orders. Follow the link

It’s the reason we’re able to move freely without consciously thinking about our environment.

Examples of proprioception include being able to walk or kick without looking at your feet or being able touch your nose with your eyes closed.

Proprioceptors are the specialised sensory receptors on nerve endings found in muscles, tendons, joints and the inner ear. Proprioceptors detect subtle changes in the environment, movement, position, tension and force, the main function being to prevent injury.

Some things can affect proprioception. Temporary impairment can come from drinking too much alcohol, which is why a sobriety test involves touching your nose while standing on one foot.

Injuries or medical conditions that affect the muscles, nerves, and the brain can cause long-term or permanent proprioception impairment. Age-related changes also affect proprioception.

Proprioception anatomy

Proprioception is basically a continuous loop of feedback between sensory receptors throughout your body and your nervous system.

Sensory receptors are located on our skin, joints, and muscles. When we move, our brain senses the effort, force, and heaviness of our actions and positions and responds accordingly.

What does poor proprioception mean?

Normal proprioception lets you move freely without giving your movements a second thought. Decreased proprioception is when there is a reduction in the sense that tells the body where you are in space which can lead to symptoms that can interfere with even the simplest activities.

Motor coordination and balance are abilities that decline during the ageing process, at least partially, by the deterioration of proprioception. The proprioceptive system, part of the somatosensory system (the sensory system concerned with the conscious perception of touch, pressure, pain, temperature, position, movement, and vibration, which arise from the muscles, joints, skin, and fascia) is specifically involved in the sensory control of balance.

Impaired proprioception leads to less accurate detection of body position changes increasing the risk of fall, and to abnormal joint biomechanics during functional activities so, over a period of time, degenerative joint disease may result.

Symptoms of proprioception disorder

A proprioception disorder or injury could cause a number of signs and symptoms, including:

Balance issues, such as having trouble standing on one foot or frequent falls while walking or sitting

Uncoordinated movement, such as not being able to walk in a straight line

Clumsiness, such as dropping or bumping into things

Poor postural control, such as slouching or having to place extra weight on a table for balance while sitting

Trouble recognizing your own strength, such as pressing on a pen too hard when writing or not being able to gauge the force needed to pick something up

Avoiding certain movements or activities, such as climbing stairs or walking on uneven surfaces because of a fear of falling

Causes for impaired proprioception

Proprioception dysfunction can be caused by injuries and disorders that affect any part of the proprioceptive system between the sensory receptors that send the signals to the parts of the brain that receive and interpret them.

The risk of proprioception loss increases as we age due to a combination of natural age-related changes to the nerves, joints, and muscles, making daily tasks harder and increasing the risk of injury and falls.

Examples of injuries and conditions that can cause proprioceptive deficit include:

• brain injuries
• herniated disc
• arthritis
• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• stroke
• autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• diabetes
• peripheral neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• joint injuries, such as ankle or knee sprain
• joint replacement surgery
• Parkinson’s disease

How is proprioception evaluated?

Proprioception is generally assessed by measuring both joint position sense (JPS) and the sense of limb movement. JPS determines the person’s ability to comprehend a presented joint angle and then, once removed, actively or passively reproduce the same joint angle. Sense of limb movement determines detection of passive motion of the limb. Both components of proprioception are important for the generation of smooth and coordinated movements, maintenance of normal body posture, regulation of balance and postural control, and motor learning and relearning.

One or more proprioception tests may be used depending on the area of the body affected.

Some proprioception tests include:

Romberg test This is the most commonly used diagnostic test for proprioceptive abnormalities. To do the test, you stand unsupported for 30 seconds with your heels together and your eyes closed. If you lose your balance during that time, it’s considered a positive result.

Field sobriety test This may involve one or a series of tests often used by police officers to evaluate suspected drunk drivers. One such test involves closing your eyes and touching your nose with each of your index fingers. The standardized field sobriety test (SFST) is a battery of three tests. It includes the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, which involves following a slowly moving pen or other object with your eyes; the walk-and-turn (WAT) test, in which you walk a few steps in a straight line with one foot in front of the other; and the one leg stand (OLS) test, which is simply standing with one foot raised off the floor.

Thumb finding test For this test, the tester will place one of your hands in a certain position. Then, you’ll be asked to touch the placed thumb with your other thumb and forefinger while your eyes are shut.

Sequential finger touching This test is often used on children and adults. To perform the test, touch each of your fingers to your thumb, starting with your forefinger.

Distal proprioception test The tester will hold the sides of your big toe and perform up and down movements while you watch. You then have to repeat the same movement with your eyes closed.

Other diagnostic tests may be suggested if an underlying medical condition or injury is suspected. These may include one or more of the following:

• blood tests
• X-rays
• CT scan or MRI scan
• electromyography
• nerve conduction velocity

Treatment for problems with proprioception

Proprioception treatment depends on the underlying cause, and it may require treating a medical condition or injury.

Along with treating any underlying condition, successful proprioception treatment also involves other therapies and exercises to help gain strength and improve balance and coordination.

Treatment options include:

• physical therapy, which can address any underlying injury or condition and involves activities to improve motor skills, strength, and balance
• occupational therapy to learn how to manage daily tasks while living with proprioception dysfunction
• somatosensory stimulation training, such as vibration therapy
• exercises, such as balance exercise
• tai chi, which improves lower limb proprioception, according to recent research
• yoga, which improves balance and muscle strength

Proprioceptive training has been shown to be effective in treating proprioception caused by a number of conditions and injuries. There’s evidence that proprioception training can also be used as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of injuries. Results vary from person to person, depending on a variety factors, such as the cause, age, and overall health.

The average age for a UK woman to experience the menopause is 51 years of age. Menopause signals a woman’s last monthly period and the end of her natural reproductive years, and it is typically confirmed 12 months following the last menstrual period.

You will often hear this part of a woman’s life referred to as a transitional journey, and this is because it rarely happens overnight; instead there are typically several stages, and symptoms can occur months or even years before menopause happens.

Unfortunately, there’s widespread misconception that menopause is a disorder caused by falling hormone levels that needs to be cured. In fact, it is a natural part of every woman’s health journey and a gradual transitional phase of adjustment between active and inactive ovarian function. This transitional phase involves biological and physical changes and for many women, a variety of symptoms may come and go as the body adapts.

However, just as you would prepare for any other journey, you can prepare for the menopausal transition too. Simply by supporting your body with the right ingredients and environment it needs to thrive, you can influence the way your body responds to the hormonal changes. And the sooner you can start to prepare your body, the better equipped you will be.

The good news is that targeted diet and lifestyle factors, and key nutrients and botanicals can provide a strong and sturdy foundation to support a smooth and comfortable journey. The key lies not in resisting but rather embracing the menopausal transition and helping your body adapt to this new terrain. And no matter where you are on the journey, whether you’re thinking 10 years ahead, or already experiencing symptoms, now is the right time to begin.

Stages of menopausal transition

Pre-menopause

Menstrual periods are regular and hormone levels are predictable through the monthly cycle. Some early symptoms such as hot flashes and altered sleep patterns may start to appear.

Peri-menopause

Ovarian function starts to decline, hormone levels (oestrogen & progesterone) start to fluctuate, periods start to become irregular and symptoms may increase. Perimenopause is associated with a wide range of possible symptoms which may include hot flashes, insomnia, changes in cognitive function, night sweats, mood changes, anxiety, lowered resilience to stress, vaginal dryness, changes in skin tone and hair quality, low libido, weight changes, joint pain, low energy and headaches. The severity of symptoms and the time frame of perimenopause can be different for every woman; for some perimenopause may last for a few months, yet for others it can continue for many years.

Post-menopause

A woman’s last menstrual period is defined as the menopause. The stage from the last period onwards is post-menopause. During post-menopause, ovarian function has declined, and the production of both oestrogen and progesterone decline. Women will continue to make some oestrogen for the rest of their lives, but progesterone production will stop completely.

During the postmenopausal stage, women are at increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular health problems.

Here is an overview of dietary, lifestyle and supplement factors to consider, no matter where you are on the journey. These are centred on providing the 360° support that your body needs.

Dietary factors

• Avoid refined, processed, convenience foods and sugary drinks and snacks
• Eat 3 distinct meals daily, choose organic wholefoods cooked from scratch
• Reduce caffeine & alcohol
• Include good quality protein (poultry, meat, tofu, tempeh, beans, chickpeas, eggs) and fat (nuts, seeds and their oils, oily fish, avocados, olives, grass-fed butter) with each meal
• Increase variety of plant foods; aim for 40+ different types of fruits, vegetables and culinary herbs in your diet each week
• Have a daily portion of fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut or kimchi
• Add sea vegetables to your diet
• Include a portion of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli & cauliflower daily
• Add phytoestrogen-rich foods such as miso, tempeh, tofu, flaxseeds & chickpeas into your diet

Lifestyle factors

• Pay close attention to your sleep hygiene to ensure you are regularly getting good quality sleep 
• Audit your diet, lifestyle and environment to identify ways you can eliminate toxins wherever possible
• Self-care is non-negotiable during the menopausal transition. Find ways to support your mental and emotional wellbeing and do more of it!
• Regular exercise that raises your heart rate at least 4 times per week

Key nutrients

Magnesium - Supports a healthy stress response, mood balance, nervous system, restful sleep and has even been found to be a useful support for hot flashes

Vitamin C - Supports a healthy stress response

Vitamins B6, B12 & Folate - Often nicknamed ‘anti-stress’ nutrients for their powerful ability to balance mood and calm the nervous system. Also important for hormonal processing and to support cardiovascular health.

Omega 3s - Support healthy hair and skin, cognitive function, mood balance and cardiovascular health

Algae sourced calcium & magnesium - Support the nervous system and healthy bones

Vitamin D - Supports healthy bones

Glutathione - The body’s master antioxidant which protects against toxins and oxidative stress. Glutathione works well with alpha lipoic acid, green tea, milk thistle, turmeric and selenium

Targeted Botanicals

Rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha & shatavari - Renowned for their stress-protective effects

Sage - Has a long history of traditional use in supporting a reduction in hot flashes, night sweats and associated climacteric complaints in menopausal women

Red clover - A rich source of phytoestrogens and commonly used as a traditional remedy to reduce high cholesterol, osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal atrophy and dryness

Also please see PRP and the menopause

such as gut bacteria, the immune system, food intolerances, a heightened stress response and/or nutrient deficiencies.           

Our gut bacteria are especially important to reduce inflammation in the body and can affect mental health through something called the gut-brain-axis.

The gut-brain-axis is a bidirectional link between cognitive and emotional centres in the brain with intestinal functions, meaning that a troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut.

This means a person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause of anxiety and stress and vice versa, and therefore manipulating the gut bacteria through our diet can be effective at improving our mood and reducing the burden of depression.

 Depression and wholegrains, fruit and vegetables

When we feel stressed we can easily fall into bad food habits. Busy lifestyles and sleep deprivation often lead to making food choices out of convenience and from cravings instead of prioritising nutritional value.

Eating a balanced diet that is abundant in a diversity of wholegrains, fruits and vegetables can be one of the most important ways we can build a healthier microbiome which can positively impact our mood through the gut-brain-axis.

Balancing fats

Our adrenal glands, the tiny glands situated at the top of our kidneys, produce cortisol in response to emotional triggers and food, which can keep us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode.

The best way to support this cortisol response is by balancing blood glucose levels throughout the day by pairing our carbohydrates with fats and/or protein sources.

Some of the best foods for anxiety and depression?

When it comes to the influence our diet has on our mental health, the variety of foods we eat becomes very important.

Key principles in your diet:

Anti-inflammatory foods – focus on including foods such as oily fish, herbs and spices.

Colourful foods – aim for half a plate of a variety of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens at every meal.

Diversity of foods – focus on a wide range of foods at each meal that also changes day-to-day if possible, is optimal.

Some of the key nutrients you can focus on to support your mental health include:

B vitamins

The most important B vitamins for brain health include vitamin B9 (Folate) and B12. They are important for neurotransmitter synthesis and help to prevent loss of brain cells in the hippocampus.

Food sources of folate and B12 include:

• Leafy greens
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Avocado
• Legumes
• Fish and shellfish
• Probiotics

In a 2010 study, a group of 50 people were randomly assigned to take either a daily probiotic formula or a placebo. The study found that the probiotic group had less depression, and their urinary levels of cortisol were lower compared to the placebo group, which indicates that they were less stressed.

Gut bacteria have the ability to boost levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid, a brain chemical which may provide relief from depression and other mental health conditions.

Probiotics are best consumed through food such as:

• Live yoghurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Aged cheese
• Tempeh
• Miso

Prebiotics

It’s important to also eat enough prebiotic foods as these help to feed the good bacteria in the gut. Good sources of prebiotic foods include:

• Berries
• Garlic
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Leeks
• Legumes
• Beans
• Banana
• Buckwheat
• Oats

Selenium

Studies show a strong link between selenium and depression. It is thought to have a positive antioxidant effect by reducing inflammation, which is often at heightened levels when someone has a mood disorder.

The richest sources of selenium include:

• Brazil nuts
• Organ meats
• Shellfish

Zinc

Low levels of zinc intake can contribute to the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Zinc supplementation has long been used as a treatment for major depression and has even been shown to be effective when combined with antidepressant therapy for effective treatment of patients with major depression.

Try and include the following foods in your diet on a regular basis:

• Nuts and seeds
• Shellfish
• Dark chocolate

Vitamin D 

A deficiency of Vitamin D can impair cognitive function and brain health, which may lead to poorly regulated mood and behaviour.

Vitamin D rich foods include:

• Fish
• Eggs
• Liver

Your body absorbs vitamin D primarily through sun exposure and therefore during autumn and winter months in the UK it is vital you take additional supplementation.

Include oily fish in your diet for mental health

 Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 essential fatty acids help to lower inflammation in the brain by protecting neurons and individuals with higher levels of omega-3 in their diets tend to have a lower incidence of major depressive disorder.

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid because it must be obtained from dietary sources as the body cannot produce it.

Food sources include:

• Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring
• Grass-fed beef also contains alpha linolenic acid, which the body can convert into omega-3
• Plant based sources include edamame, walnuts and chia seeds, however this is much harder to convert and an additional vegan algae supplement would be recommended.

Foods to avoid

Processed oils

Sunflower, safflower and corn oil are types of polyunsaturated fats which, when consumed in excess, can cause an imbalance in the omega 3:6 ratio in the body, increasing the risk of inflammation and depression. 

Trans fats found in fried foods, frozen pizza, fast foods and margarine are associated with an increased risk of developing depression.

High glycaemic  load (GL) foods

A diet high in glycaemic load (GL) is associated with an increased risk of developing depression. These high GL foods impact your blood sugar levels and in turn increase a hormone called insulin which is inflammatory in the body and the brain.

White potatoes, white rice and white bread are all examples of high glycaemic load carbohydrates. Even though these foods do not taste sweet, the body processes it in a similar way to sugar.

In order to minimise the risk of developing depression, choosing good sources of whole grains and fibre would be a better option. These include brown rice, steel cut oats, brown rice, nuts, seeds, berries, apples and pears.

Caffeine

Caffeine releases cortisol, our stress hormone, which can cause issues with blood sugar regulation and leave you feeling more anxious.

Therefore, it is advisable to limit the amount of caffeine consumed and try not to consume any after 12 noon as this can affect how well you sleep.

Alcohol

We know that excessive drinking can adversely affect mental health, and even though alcohol may suppress anxious feelings while consuming, the rebound effect can be far worse than the baseline level of anxiety.

There seems to be a bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and depressive disorders – one increases the risk for the other, and one can worsen the other.

It is therefore important to moderate the amount of alcohol consumption.

Can lifestyle have an effect on depression?

Stay active

We all know how much better we feel after physical exercise. Exercise can be one of the most important ways we can support our mental health by boosting feel good endorphins in the brain.

Sleep

Optimal sleep is key to mental wellbeing as the brain does important clearing throughout the night helping us deal with emotions more effectively.

To promote healthy sleep, limit the use of phones or other stimulating devices in the hour before you go to bed and try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night in a dark bedroom.

Practice mindfulness each day

This can be as simple as going for a walk in nature, doing ten minutes of meditation, reading a relaxing novel, playing an instrument, singing or dancing. Anything that brings you back in the moment can be great for calming anxiety about the future and positively impacting your mood.

Remember that solitude is not the same as loneliness. Spending five minutes a day in solitude can be an important component of a healthy mind.

Switch off

In the modern world in which we live we are constantly bombarded with social media and negative news which can increase feelings of anxiety. Maybe it’s time to take a digital detox and practice being more present in our daily lives.

Hopefully with emerging evidence we can create a future where the importance of nutrition and food is used to optimise mental wellbeing and brain health.

The most important thing when dealing with depression and anxiety is to reach out and get support. Speak to loved ones or get in touch with a mental health professional if you need help.

Claudia’s specialist area of interest is supporting clients with complex health conditions such as chronic fatigue and autoimmunity. Having spent years as a Biomedic treating clients and researching Chronic Fatigue, other autoimmune diseases and most recently COVID long-term effects, she has developed her Fatigue Recovery Formula, to help her clients regain their quality of life.

Book a consultation now

Ageing starts the day we are born. As we age growing up, we initiate a complete change of our body. If you have children, you can watch your child learn and grow right before your eyes.

The process is indeed a miracle to behold. You understand these bodily ageing changes because you can see them happen.

 At the same time, the young brain is in a massive growth spurt. Even though you can’t see the brain itself grow, you see the results of the changing brain.

You understand that the brain is ageing and changing because you can see the physical changes that come with the ageing brain.

The young brain is growing neurons and synaptic connections in response to the environment. If there are a novel and complex environment, the young brain responds by adding new cells and connections rapidly. All of this extra growth is known as cognitive reserve.

These rapid changes continue until around the mid-twenties – the early thirties. The automatic growth of new cells (neurogenesis) and new connections (neuroplasticity) slows down significantly after you hit the ripe old age of twenty-five.

The ageing brain is making changes in a whole different way after about the age of twenty-five. Cognitive decline starts to happen! Cognition is planning, decision-making, thinking, and speed of processing (ability to think quickly). But through your thirties, you have so much cognitive reserve stored up that you don’t notice the tell tale signs of ageing. You start burning through the extra cells and connections you grew when you were younger. Because you have these extra cells and connections, you don’t notice any significant changes.

Around forty years old, you start to notice the tip of the tongue problems – you know what you want to say, but you just can't get it out. You forget what you wanted to get from the grocery store and you forget phone numbers, addresses and other bothersome details of life. This is when young adults start freaking out. The biggest fear is that they are on the slippery slope to Alzheimer’s.

So, what is going on when your brain is ageing?

But the truth is, your brain does not know how old you are! Your brain ages by the lifestyle that you lead. The latest statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association state that Alzheimer’s is a lifestyle disease, and lifestyle can actually put you at a 90% risk of developing dementia!! That statistic alone can change the whole perspective on how we view Alzheimer’s. It shifts us from victim to control.

Growing new cells and recovering brain volume is neurogenesis. More connections in the brain (neuroplasticity) also increase brain volume. The discovery of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity is recent and completely upended the belief that our brains were fixed after age 25 and continued to decline until the day we died. Now we know that we have the power to maintain a high functioning brain until the day we die if we live a brain-healthy lifestyle.

Back to the dilemma of ageing to old. When do you have to start taking care of your brain? If your brain is still functioning on a high level in your thirties and forties, is it necessary to take the extra steps to keep it functioning on a high level? Yes, it is! To reiterate, our brain ages by the lifestyle that we live. The younger you start living a brain-healthy lifestyle, the less damage you have to repair. To put it plainly, you are never too young or ever too old to start living a brain-healthy lifestyle.

Here are six factors essential to achieving/maintaining a healthy brain

1. Physical Exercise

We have received the DNA hardwiring from our prehistoric ancestors to stay on the move. We are not built to sit around all day. Our first humans died if they didn’t move, and unfortunately, we can die because we don’t move.

When we move, our heart beats faster, and we are pushing more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain. Our prefrontal cortex (executive centre of the brain) is an energy cannibal. Our brain doesn’t have its own energy source and relies on the blood, oxygen, and nutrients sent to it by our heart.

This influx of blood, oxygen, and nutrients also release a neurohormone – BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which functions as a fertilizer to help new baby neurons bud from neural stem cells. One of the only ways the BDNF is released is by exercise. You grow new neurons (Neurogenesis) when you exercise!

2. Challenge/ Mental Stimulation

Our brain is very good at pruning cells and synaptic connections that we don’t use. In fact, we lose 5% of brain volume every decade after about age 40! When we live in a novel and complex environment, our brain is challenged, and we create new neural connections (Neuroplasticity). Challenging your brain does not mean specifically using online brain games. Taking a vacation to another country where you don’t speak the language can give your brain a big boost. Learn that language before you take your trip, and your brain will love you forever. Anything you do that requires effort to use your brain to the maximum is paramount to growing new synaptic connections. Between Physical Exercise and Mental Stimulation, you are creating brain volume and actually changing your brain.

3. Nourish/ Nutrition

The brain is very specific about its nutrients. Many foods can hurt your brain, and many that can help your brain. Western culture has not done a great job of promoting healthy eating. Obesity and diabetes type 2 are at epidemic numbers.

Diabetes type 2 is so detrimental to your brain that consideration is given to renaming Alzheimer’s to Diabetes Type 3.

The mind diet is touted as a brain-healthy diet. Dark leafy vegetables, dark-red-skinned fruit, olive oil, food sources that are high in antioxidants, dark chocolate , and red wine. Also omega 3 fatty acids are core foods that need to be considered in this diet. The body is far better at metabolising foods, and the brain is more apt to benefit from food sources to provide proper nutrients.

We have really under-estimated the value of sleep throughout the years. It became a badge of honour if we gave up sleeping to finish big work projects, study for an exam, or have an active social life and still get to work on time. As it turns out, our brains are very busy during the night, and sleep is necessary. During the day, we bring in lots of signals meant to become memories. These signals are held in the hippocampus (center of learning and memory) until we go to sleep. The hippocampus scans the brain for similar memories and consolidates this new memory with others that are already encoded. This consolidation increases signal strength to make recall easier, but the memories will never be exactly as you remembered them.

A second function takes place in our brains while we are sleeping. We have glial cells (another type of brain cell) that form channels filled with cerebral spinal fluid. These channels run throughout our brains. During sleep, the glymphatic system cleans and flushes toxins and cell debris accumulated in the brain. You put yourself at a higher risk of developing dementia when you don’t sleep.

6. Calm/Stress

 This is another hardwired gift from our prehistoric ancestors. Our brain is always on alert because its main function is to keep us alive. The acute stress cycle is kicked off automatically when our brain senses danger, real or imagined. Adrenalin starts flowing throughout our brain and body before knowing that we have responded to a stress event. It doesn’t matter how hard we work to have a healthy brain. If we can’t control our life's stress, we negate all of the beneficial changes we made in our brains. When we can’t get out of the chronic stress cycle, we are pushing cortisol, the ultimate stress hormone, throughout our brain and body. Cortisol doesn’t care what it destroys. And our brain takes a huge hit with a loss of neurons and synaptic connections resulting in less brain volume and a lower functioning brain.

Reading about maintaining a healthy brain, and practising this lifestyle, come in at two different levels of awareness. Intellectually understanding the importance of living this lifestyle is paramount to practising it. Commitment to making these life changes results in a high-functioning brain. You can change your brain and, ultimately, change your life.

Fad diets have been a mainstay of the weight loss industry for decades, each season bringing with it a brand new quick-fix diet to help you shed a few pounds, lose a clothing size and achieve the “perfect” body.

It would be easy to dismiss the recent surge in popularity of various fasting regimes as just another one of those fads, but to do so would be to ignore an abundance of scientific evidence and a rich history of cultural tradition that points to some not insignificant health benefits to be gained. Fasting in some form or another is deeply rooted in many cultures and religions, and research has shown that although there can be benefits for weight loss, there are an abundance of additional benefits to fasting that affect nearly every system in the body, ultimately leading to better overall health and prevention of chronic disease.

Fasting for Gut Health

The gut is one such body system that benefits enormously from fasting according to the research. While most people focus on what happens in the gut when we eat something, equally important functions occur when we’re not. When we’ve finished eating, digestion goes into a kind of “housekeeping” mode, busying itself with the vital clean up operation required to keep the gut functioning optimally. Undigested food particles, enzymes and unwanted bacteria are flushed through the system towards the colon from where they can be excreted.

The system responsible for running the housekeeping is called the Migrating Motor Complex, or MMC, a series of involuntary muscular contractions that pulse in waves throughout the gastrointestinal tract, propelling food, waste and bacteria down through the body for excretion. It occurs approximately 2-3 hours after your last meal and continues for about 90 minutes, but importantly, this process occurs only in a fasted state. As soon as food is consumed, the MMC stops dead in its tracks and diverts attention away from the clean up and instead towards digestion.

Intermittent Fasting

Fasting therefore lends itself well to this clean up process, involving as it does the restriction of all or some foods or drinks for a period of time. In particular it is the practice of intermittent fasting, or time-restricted feeding, that can be particularly beneficial for the MMC. Intermittent fasting simply refers to the period of time that occurs between eating meals and is more correctly referred to as an eating pattern, rather than a diet as the types of food eaten are not restricted.

There are numerous methods of intermittent fasting that can be employed, all involving splitting the day or the week into eating and fasting periods.

These include:

1) The 5:2 diet – involves capping your calories at 800 for two days a week, whilst continuing to eat normally for the remaining 5 days

2) Alternate Day Fasting – involves calorie restriction every other day whilst continuing to eat normally on the days in between

3) Time-Restricted Eating – involves set fasting and eating windows, for example the 16:8 method of only eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for 16 hours, and the 14:10 method of eating within a 10-hour window and fasting for 14 hours

4) 24-hour fasting – this method involves fasting for a full 24 hours and is only done once or twice a week

5) Spontaneous Meal Skipping – involves missing meals at random throughout the week.

The 16:8 Diet

Which method confers the most benefit to health is up for debate and will ultimately come down to a combination of the individual health goal and personal preference. However, for optimal daily benefits to digestive health and the MMC, some form of time-restricted eating is generally advised, giving the body a significant window during the day without eating in which to “clean up”. In addition, this form of fasting is arguably much easier to adopt as it avoids the necessity to go an entire day without food. For instance, with the right timing on the 16:8 diet, you can eat your last meal at 7pm and eat your first meal of the day at 11am the following day, essentially just delaying breakfast.

A New Prescription for Health

As well as demonstrable benefits for the MMC and gut function, research has shown fasting can positively influence our bodies on the cellular and molecular level too, causing human growth hormone levels to go up and insulin levels to go down, making it easier for the body to burn fat for energy (thermogenesis) and maintain a healthy weight. Cellular repair processes and healthy gene expression are also facilitated whilst fasting, helping to keep our cells healthy and protect against disease. Fasting has also been shown to have many inflammation fighting mechanisms too.

With so many potential benefits to health, it’s clear that intermittent fasting should be considered as part of a healthy lifestyle regime, and in particular for gut health where normal bodily processes are unable to function optimally without regular periods of abstinence. With research still in its early stages, it will be interesting to see whether intermittent fasting becomes a more widely recommended practice in the future.

(Reference - Katherine Pardo BSc (Hons), Dip ION)

The function of the thyroid is to make thyroid hormone, which is secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should.

The thyroid is one of the most important areas to look at to improve energy and overall health, and yet is probably the most ignored and poorly treated gland in the body. Thyroid dysfunction often goes undiagnosed.

HORMONES PRODUCED BY THE THYROID

The thyroid produces two major hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

Thyroxine or T4 is produced by the thyroid gland under regulation from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

The feedback loop signals to the hypothalamus to release thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which then

stimulates the pituitary gland to release the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

The 4 stands for 4 iodine molecules that are attached to it. To activate T4 it is converted to T3.

We have enzymes that remove one of the iodine molecules and make T3.

T3 is a second thyroid hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland, but also in other tissues through

deiodination (enzymatic conversion) of T4. T3 helps maintain muscle control, brain function and development,

heart and digestive functions. It also plays a role in the body’s metabolic rate and the maintenance of bone health.

Although these are the two main hormones produced by the thyroid, when investigating the health and function of the thyroid gland your health care professional would normally test one (possibly two) hormone, called TSH, to diagnose thyroid dysfunction.

 THYROID DYSFUNCTION

When the thyroid is not functioning optimally, a cascade of hormonal events takes place affecting several glands and hormones of the endocrine system and

all the physiological processes they regulate. The end result is one of two main types of thyroid condition: hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

The main focus of this blog is hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid.

WHAT IS HYPOTHYROIDISM?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) hypothyroidism, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to meet your body’s needs.

The prevalence of underactive thyroid is 2% in the UK and seems to be more common in women.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary from person to person. The severity of the condition also affects which signs and symptoms appear and when.

Because many of the symptoms are so common and linked with other diseases, they can be difficult to identify.

The most common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Puffy and sensitive face
• Depression
• Constipation
• High cholesterol
• Oedema
• Fatigue
• Mental fogginess and poor memory
• Poor vision
• Weight gain
• Poor circulation and numbness in the hands and feet
• Feeling cold
• Chronic digestive problems
• Dry/brittle hair and skin
• Morning headaches
• Muscle stiffness, aches and tenderness
• Fertility difficulties and menstrual changes
• Hoarseness
• Decreased sweating

CAUSES

The major causes of hypothyroidism include:

Nutrient deficiency

Zinc is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormone.

Selenium is required to convert T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) into T3 (active form of thyroid hormone).

Selenium is also important for the protection of the thyroid cells from oxidative damage during thyroid hormone synthesis from iodine.

Vitamin A, B, C, and tyrosine are also crucial to healthy thyroid function. Deficiencies of these nutrients can lead to the development of hypothyroidism.

Iodine

Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine.

Iodine is present naturally in soil and seawater. The iodine concentration of water and foods is highly variable. Seaweed (such as kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame)

is one of the best food sources of iodine. Other good sources include fish and other seafood, as well as eggs. Iodine is also present in human breast milk and infant formulas, added to processed foods as iodized salt, and available as a dietary supplement.

Both iodine deficiency and iodine excess are associated with an increased risk of thyroid disorders.

 When blood levels of TSH rise, the thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. However, when your body is low in iodine, it can't make enough of them.

To compensate, the thyroid gland works harder to try to make more. This causes the cells to grow and multiply, eventually leading to a goitre.

 If the underactive thyroid isn't caused by iodine deficiency, iodine supplements give no benefit and shouldn't be taken.

In fact, for some people with an underactive thyroid, too much iodine can cause or worsen their condition.

Effect of excessive iodine on the thyroid

Excessive iodine intake can alter thyroid function, although most individuals tolerate high dietary intakes of iodine remarkably well.

Hashimoto’s disease

Whilst iodine is necessary to make thyroid hormones, research has shown that excess amounts can actually exacerbate Hashimoto’s disease,

in which the body attacks the thyroid gland, progressively destroying its capacity to produce thyroid hormone.

This can result in hypothyroidism, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed to Hashimoto’s and may have certain “vulnerabilities”, such as a selenium deficiency.

Stress

Stress has a significant impact on your thyroid hormone function. This may be due to the effect of cortisol, which can block the conversion of T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3 and can also increase the unusable reverse T3 (rT3), further confusing the delicate balance of thyroid hormones that are so essential for optimal health.

Gut problems

Close to 80% of your immune system is located in your gut microbiome. Research suggests that poor gut health such as leaky gut syndrome and dysbiosisa (reduction in microbial diversity) will contribute to poor immune health. Also, 20 percent of your T4 is converted to the active thyroid hormone T3 in the gut, and an imbalanced, unhealthy microbiome can inhibit this process.

Toxin exposure

This is becoming more and more prevalent as our world has become increasingly toxic. Studies have shown that chemicals and heavy metals can cause an autoimmune response against the thyroid.

Other possible causes may include oestrogen imbalances, blood sugar dysregulation, insulin resistance and diabetes, use of artificial sweeteners, smoking, too much goitrogens (constituent of some foods) and low levels of vitamin A, iron, copper.

PREGNANCY

The reason isn’t clear, but sometimes, inflammation of the thyroid occurs after pregnancy. This is called postpartum thyroiditis. Women with this condition usually have a severe increase in thyroid hormone levels followed by a sharp drop in thyroid hormone production.

Most women with postpartum thyroiditis will regain their normal thyroid function but some may end up developing hypothyroidism.

 RISK FACTORS

The thyroid is the ‘sentinel’ for the environment. The function of the thyroid gland is designed to be induced or suppressed in response to changes in the environment.

As the environment changes, the function of the thyroid gland will change.

Key risk factors in the development of hypothyroidism:

Infections: Viral infections such as Epstein-barr can be a potential trigger for poor thyroid health, so an important consideration whilst investigating thyroid health.

Adrenal stress, which can manifest in many ways, can lead to autoimmunity, thyroid resistance, reduced conversion of T4 (non-active) to T3 (active) and disruption to the endocrine system.

Antigens/Gut function: Poor gut health can suppress thyroid function and trigger Hashimoto’s disease, and low thyroid function can lead to an inflamed and leaky gut. It’s important to mention gluten sensitivity and coeliac here, as research shows a strong link between hypothyroidism and gluten intolerance.

Medication: Thyroid physiology is very vulnerable to negative influences from many commonly prescribed and widely used medications.

Movement, sleep and relationships are also huge part of the functioning of the body and we cannot ignore the power of these lifestyle factors when investigating and treating hypothyroidism.

DIAGNOSIS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

There is an ongoing debate about the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The standard blood test available on the NHS currently looks at one, possibly two thyroid markers. One is TSH and the other one is T4. Testing for such a limited number of markers often leads to under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis and the patient often walks away thinking their thyroid function is fine.

In the current conventional system, when a patient is diagnosed with hypothyroidism they are often prescribed levothyroxine to counteract the symptoms of low thyroid hormone, regardless of the cause. But is it likely that that patient will go on to develop other health conditions because the underlying cause has not been addressed.

Patients with under active thyroid function have a much higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, osteoarthrosis, osteoporosis, asthma, hypertension, dyslipidemia, infertility, mental health issues; low thyroid function is a symptom among a collection of other related symptoms with an underlying and unifying connection.

In order to successfully treat conditions that are directly linked to the thyroid, we need to understand what triggers the cascade of dysfunction. Only then can we begin to mitigate these triggers to start a path to healing.

This is where Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed can help.

BioMed provides a wide range of diagnostics profiles which analyse all your body’s systems including thyroid function.

So, if you have concerns about your thyroid or any other health matters book a consultation now.

Following screening and in depth discussion Claudia will create a personalised health plan designed to your individual requirements.

It then ranks the quality of carbohydrates based on this score. Foods are ranked on a scale of 0 to 100, with pure glucose (sugar) given a value of 100. High GI carbohydrates cause blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, whereas low GI foods are digested and absorbed more slowly.

The GI principle was first developed as a strategy for guiding food choices for people with diabetes.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, or carbs, a type of nutrient in foods, are an essential part of our diet since they provide fuel for the brain, most other organs and muscles during exercise. However, not all carbohydrate foods are equal. Different types of carbohydrate foods have properties that affect how quickly your body digests them and how quickly glucose enters your bloodstream. The three basic forms are sugars, starches and fibre. When you eat or drink something with carbs, your body breaks down the sugars and starches into a type of sugar called glucose, the main source of energy for cells in your body. Fibre passes through your body undigested.

Two main hormones from your pancreas help regulate glucose in your bloodstream. The hormone insulin moves glucose from your blood into your cells. The hormone glucagon helps release glucose stored in your liver when your blood sugar level is low. This process helps keep your body fuelled and ensures a natural balance in blood glucose. This slow release of glucose into the bloodstream is proven to be much more beneficial for the body – from improving energy levels to managing weight, diabetes and other health concerns.

Understanding the GI value of a food can help you make healthier food choices and improve your overall health in the long run. The GI value of foods is calculated in a food laboratory using valid scientific methods. There are three classifications for GI:

The Glycaemic Index Diet

Purpose

The purpose of a glycaemic index diet is to eat carbohydrate-containing foods that are less likely to cause large increases in blood sugar levels.

The diet could be a means to lose weight and prevent chronic diseases related to obesity such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Comparing these values, therefore, can help guide healthier food choices. For example, an English muffin made with white wheat flour has a GI value of 77.

A whole-wheat English muffin has a GI value of 45.

Why you might follow the GI diet

• You might choose to follow the GI diet because you:
•  Want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
• Need help planning and eating healthier meals
• Need help maintaining blood sugar levels as part of a diabetes treatment plan

 Studies suggest that a GI diet can help achieve these goals.

 Selecting foods based on a glycaemic index may help you manage your weight because many foods that should be included in a

well-balanced, low-fat, healthy diet with minimally processed foods — whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products — have low GI values.

 Follow these tips to include more low GI foods into your diet:

• Prepare more stews and salads from ingredients that contain less carbs
• When shopping, choose grainy bread (you should be able to see the grains) or sourdoughs.
• Include legumes in your meals two or three times a week (more if you are vegetarian).
• Milk and yoghurt are both low GI and enriched with protein and calcium. If you are lactose intolerant, select calcium enriched soy milks instead of rice milk.

The researchers who maintain the GI database caution, however, that the "glycaemic index should not be used in isolation"

and that other nutritional factors— calories, fat, fibre, vitamins and other nutrients — should be considered.

How BioMed can help 

Following an initial health assessment, Claudia, your BioMed Health Professional, may recommend a computerised health screening (Quantum Analysis) 

which will identify any allergies, intolerances and nutritional deficiencies in the body’s systems.

An individualised treatment plan can then be created using a combination of therapies, treatments and recommended life style practises.

BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW

For optimum health, it’s vital that a man sustains an appropriate level of testosterone throughout his life.                                    

Testosterone influences many bodily processes such as libido, bone growth, liver function and hair growth,

yet, testosterone deficiency is on the rise.

Many men are dealing with symptoms of suboptimal testosterone. But what is causing it?

WHAT IS TESTOSTERONE?

Testosterone is what’s known as a steroid hormone. Men use cholesterol to make it in their testes, and women make in much smaller amounts in their ovaries. Some testosterone is also made in the adrenal glands. Although testosterone is important to women’s hormonal function, this article will focus on testosterone (and specifically low testosterone) in men.

WHERE DOES TESTOSTERONE COME FROM?

It might be synthesised in the testes, but the production of testosterone also involves men’s brains.

The pituitary gland (in the brain) releases something called luteinizing hormone. This hormone acts as a special messenger,

travelling in the blood to reach the testes. When it gets there, it finds the Leydig cells and tells them to start making testosterone.

At the beginning of his life, a man has over 700 million Leydig cells in his testes. However, after his 20th birthday, he loses around 6 million of these cells yearly.

This is one reason behind the lower levels of testosterone as a man ages—but, as you’ll discover, it’s not the only one.

WHAT DOES TESTOSTERONE DO?

Most people understand that testosterone is key to creating a sense of ‘manliness’—and it’s true that its essential for both strength, libido and ability to perform in the bedroom.

However, testosterone influences many other bodily processes, such as:

• Bone growth
• Stimulation of stem cells
• Production of red blood cells
• Memory
• Liver function
• Hair growth
• Sebum (skin oil) production

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE?

Some of the symptoms of low testosterone seem obvious, while others are more subtle. Examples include:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased libido
• Fewer morning erections
• Low energy
• Sleep disturbances
• Depressed mood
• Cognitive impairment

Low testosterone has also been associated with certain conditions. That’s not to say that low testosterone is causing these conditions,

but that’s it’s more prevalent in people with these conditions. In some cases, it may even be a catch-22 situation

(i.e. low testosterone can contribute to a condition, which then further lowers testosterone).

Some examples include:

• Diabetes - Low testosterone may be an early sign that a man is heading towards metabolic syndrome and/or type-2 diabetes.
• Obesity - Several studies have found that low testosterone and obesity reinforce each other. That means that if you address one, you’ll have knock-on effect on the other.
• Depression - Another study showed that in a group of men with borderline-low testosterone levels, more than half had depression or depressive symptoms.
• Osteoporosis - Due to its role in bone formation, an accepted symptom of low testosterone is a reduction in bone mineral density.
• Cognitive decline - In older men, there’s a correlation between normal levels of testosterone and improved cognition.

Perhaps most significantly of all, low testosterone can significantly diminish a man’s quality of life. The psychological effects of symptoms—especially not

being able to perform sexually as he would like—should not be underestimated.

WHAT CAUSES LOW TESTOSTERONE?

Testosterone deficiency is on the rise. Figures vary, but it’s believed that more than 2% of men between the ages of 40 and 79 suffer from

low testosterone. That means there may be hundreds of thousands of men in the UK who are putting up with symptoms.

 The conventional view is that testosterone deficiency is down to ‘primary hypogonadism’ or ‘secondary hypogonadism’.

Primary hypogonadism involves the testes directly, and can be caused by conditions such as mumps, trauma or something called Klinefelter syndrome.

‘Secondary hypogonadism’ means there’s something amiss with the brain, thus affecting the messages than can travel to the testes.

Amongst others, this could be a result of head trauma or pituitary tumour.

However, 89% of low testosterone cases don’t fit into this framework. This means something else is going on.

Studies show that several lifestyle factors can contribute to low testosterone. These include:

SLEEP LOSS

A lack of sleep dramatically reduces testosterone levels, even in healthy young men. This effect can be seen after a week.

It’s believed that up to a third of British adults are chronically sleep-deprived.

STRESS

As levels of the stress hormone cortisol go up, testosterone goes down. Stress can come in many forms: physical, emotional and even chemical.

MEDICATIONS

Many commonly used drugs affect testosterone levels. These include opioids (painkillers), statins and tricyclic antidepressants.

Nicotine, alcohol and marijuana also have an effect.

DIET

A high-calorie, low-nutrient diet—which is typical of many people in the West—can lead to a person becoming overweight and even obese.

Obesity and low testosterone feed in to each other.

AGEING

The traditional view was that testosterone naturally declined with age. However, more recent studies show that a quarter of men in later life

maintain normal testosterone levels. There appears to be a stronger correlation between comorbidities and low testosterone.

In other words, the more health conditions you have, the more likely you are to have low testosterone.

Evidence suggests that the same factors driving common lifestyle conditions (such as diabetes, obesity and cognitive decline) are also behind this global reduction in testosterone?

HOW TO TREAT LOW TESTOSTERONE NATURALLY

A key tenet of Functional Medicine is treating the individual. Rather than looking to balance hormones specifically, it’s best to help the person

balance their lifestyle. This will allow their hormones to recalibrate naturally.

When it comes to supporting optimum testosterone, there are a few key principles:

REACH YOUR OPTIMUM WEIGHT

Getting rid of excess weight can both raise testosterone and reduce your risk of metabolic conditions. When it comes to weight loss,

different things work for different people—but a good starting point is to reduce your intake of white flour, alcohol and sugar.

EXERCISE INTELLIGENTLY

Studies consistently show that exercise supports testosterone levels. Both high-intensity sessions (such as HIIT) and weight training are good choices.

REDUCE YOUR TOXIC EXPOSURE

This particularly applies to cadmium, a toxin found in cigarettes, which has been found to reduce testosterone levels.

If you smoke, seek help to stop. If you live in a house with smokers, ask them to do it outside.

MANAGE STRESS

Remember, as cortisol goes up, testosterone goes down. We can’t always change the circumstances of our life overnight (job stress, for example)

but we can change how we react to them. Try meditation, or practise mindfulness. This can also be good opportunity to evaluate your priorities.

OPTIMISE SLEEP

Most people need between 7–9 hours a night. Invest in a comfortable bed, and give yourself time for a nightly wind-down routine.

EAT WELL

The foundations of a healthy diet are whole, natural foods. Beyond this, certain nutrients are particularly important for testosterone production:

Vitamin A and Vitamin D

Zinc - This mineral is found in shellfish, red meat, legumes and seeds.

Selenium - A mineral found in Brazil nuts and fish.

Certain supplements, such as quercetin and green tea extract, can stop the enzymes that convert testosterone into other hormones—

therefore helping to maintain an appropriate level of testosterone.

It’s worth remembering that the cause of your low testosterone may be different to another man’s.

For an assessment of your individual requirements why not Book an appointment with Claudia, your BioMed Healthcare Professional?

News provided by Cellular Medicine Association June 14, 2021

Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Demonstrates that the P-SHOT® Works for Erectile Dysfunction

 Sixty men volunteered to have their penis injected with their own blood by eight urologists from Aristotle University in Greece; the results—a double-blind,

randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in the May 2021 issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine—showed that “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Improves Erectile Function.” More than two-thirds of the men who had their penis injected were pleased with the improvement in their erection and there

were zero complications from the procedure. During the study, the sixty men who participated were not allowed to use any other treatments to improve erections.

Dr. Charles Runels (the inventor of the procedure, which is called the Priapus Shot® or P-Shot®) said, “It’s been a long decade with much resistance,

but I’m hoping this new study helps more physicians recognize the potential benefits of the P-Shot® procedure.”

On September 12, 2010, Dr. Charles Runels registered his Priapus Shot® (P-Shot®) with the US Patent and Trademark office—announcing that he had

found a way to inject platelet rich plasma into the penis to improve the health and function. Since then, multiple studies have been conducted and have shown

benefit; but, adoption by urologists has been slow.

“We needed this study. I’m a community physician with a small office who just happened to be blessed with the discovery of this therapy more than a

decade ago. We have amazing and brilliant providers in multiple universities; but, even they have trouble securing financing for research since the procedure

involves the patient’s own blood—there’s no drug, and so there’s no pharmaceutical company to finance the research. If this were a drug, you would see

commercials about it on every televised football game—it’s that effective. Until now, surgery and prescription medicines have been the first choice of most

urologists and family practitioners; with this procedure, there is not a drug to buy or sell and there’s no surgery. I’m grateful these brilliant physicians from

Greece have strengthened the evidence that the P-Shot® should be considered along with the current therapies. Nothing goes away, but this important

option should no longer be ignored” said Dr. Runels.

Dr. Runels also invented the Vampire Facelift® in 2010 and used his observations from that procedure to design the P-Shot® procedure and O-shot®

procedure—all of which use PRP: which is known to improve the circulation, nerve conduction, and collagen production and so to improve the health of tissue

in over thirteen thousand research papers in multiple tissue types.

Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional is a fully qualified practitioner licensed to perform the P-Shot® procedure. Book your consultation now.

To read the full report published by the Cellular Medicine Association please click on the link

The most common of all gastrointestinal problems, IBS is far more prevalent among women, and generally occurs between the ages of 25 - 45.

‘IBS’ is more of an umbrella term that describes a set of symptoms rather than an explanation of what’s causing the problem, and this makes it difficult to treat.

There is no single known cause and conventional treatments tend to focus on symptom relief.

As with many complex health problems, a functional medicine approach can be an incredibly effective way of dealing with IBS.

This approach involves digging deep to get to the root cause, and dealing with the problem at this foundation level so that improvements last for good.

Functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just a set of symptoms. In contrast, conventional treatment options for IBS often focus on symptom

relief which will only bring temporary benefit.

The takeaway message is that you don’t need to ‘just live with’ unwanted symptoms of IBS. Read on if you’re ready to take action to improve your gut health for good.

Use this comprehensive guide to IBS as an ideal starting point to help you on the path to improved gut function.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of IBS can range from mild to severe and unfortunately for sufferers, often interfere with normal daily life.

For those with IBS, everyday activities such as dining out can become a daunting prospect, as anxiety over how the body will react builds.

Many IBS sufferers have symptom ‘flare-ups’, which settle down again, and so the cycle continues.

Common symptoms include:

• Recurrent abdominal pain and cramping (often relieved following a bowel movement)
• Change in bowel habits (diarrhoea / constipation or both)
• Bloating
• Excessive wind
• Urgent need to go to the toilet
• Lack of energy
• Nausea

IBS CAUSES

It’s crucial with IBS to identify and work on the root cause(s) and at the same time use natural symptom relief to ensure any improvements

aren’t just temporary, but long lasting.

Possible underlying causes include:

• Food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity (e.g. wheat, gluten, dairy, lactose, fructose)
• Poor eating patterns
• Intensive/endurance exercise
• Intestinal infection (viral, bacteria / yeast / parasite)
• Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
• Imbalanced gut flora
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Malabsorption
• Low digestive enzymes or stomach acid
• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is now recognised as a significant possible underlying cause of IBS in 50-85% of cases

WHAT TRIGGERS IBS SYMPTOMS?

When you know the triggers that can cause your IBS symptoms to flare up, it will be easier for you to avoid them in the future and keep your IBS to a minimum.

Because IBS is different for everyone, you may have different triggers which set off different symptoms.

Possible triggers include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Poor eating habits (eating on the run, whilst distracted, in a rush, in a state of stress)
• Food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity
• Drinking large volumes of liquid with meals
• Ice cold liquids
• Fatty foods
• Tea & coffee
• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Citrus fruits
• Raw fruits & vegetables in high quantities
• High FODMAP foods

(FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols - short-chain carbs that are resistant to digestion)

IBS SYMPTOM RELIEF

Tiredness, fatigue and high levels of oxidative stress often accompany the more characteristic symptoms of IBS.

So in addition to targeted gastrointestinal support, a comprehensive range of essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to enhance cellular energy,

normalise metabolic function and increase antioxidant intake are strongly recommended.

A FIVE STEP PLAN TO RESTORING NORMAL GUT FUNCTION

Step 1: Remove

Since gut infections can be a common underlying cause of IBS, the first step of the plan involves removing potentially harmful micro-organisms

which may be residing in the gut and causing adverse symptoms. A natural herbal anti-microbial formula providing caprylic acid, grapefruit seed extract,

berberine, garlic and oregano is a useful starting point to support the remove stage.

Remove can also refer to stripping the diet back to wholesome basics by eliminating foods and drinks which can commonly be problematic

for the gut (wheat, gluten, dairy, refined sugars, processed foods, spicy foods, tea, coffee, alcohol etc).

A simple nourishing diet which focuses on whole, unprocessed foods and removes common dietary triggers for a defined period allows the gut time

to heal and restore optimal function. It is useful to keep a daily food diary and note down any reactions once you start to reintroduce these foods and drinks again.

Step 2: Replace

The gut produces important digestive secretions including enzymes and stomach acid which help to break down food so individual nutrients can be absorbed.

Sometimes the body doesn’t produce enough of these factors which can hamper the digestive process and set off a vicious cycle.

Supporting the body with a supplement of gentle broad-spectrum enzymes before each meal is a simple way to help the process of digestion to happen more effectively.

Step 3: Re-inoculate

Research now shows that a healthy, diverse gut microbiome is at the cornerstone, not only of good gut health, but of optimal health overall.

The third step, re-inoculate, therefore is all about nourishing this immensely important intestinal population of microbes.

Dietary changes such as increasing variety of foods to feed beneficial bacteria (aim for 20 – 40 different types of fruits and vegetables each week and slowly introduce into your diet, a daily serving of fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut & kimchi which can help to support your beneficial bacteria).

You can also supplement your diet with a range of live bacteria that have been shown to be supportive to health such as Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®, L

actobacillus paracasei lpc-37, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-04, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 & Saccharomyces boulardii.

Step 4: Repair

Often, when digestive factors are low and infectious micro-organisms and/or problematic foods are present in the diet, the gut wall can become damaged.

This is often referred to as a ‘leaky gut’. The fourth step therefore focuses on providing key nutrients to repair the gut wall.

Important gut-repair nutrients include the amino acid L-glutamine and the trace mineral zinc. In addition, antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins B2, C, E, manganese,

alpha lipoic acid and green tea extract help to protect the gut wall from further damage.

Step 5: Retain

The fifth and crucial step involves now making an assessment of what needs to be done to retain your new level of gut health.

This involves slowly re-introducing potentially problematic foods and drinks one at a time to evaluate how the body responds.

Some foods may need to be avoided for longer; whilst others can be seamlessly re-introduced. Supplementing with a maintenance

level of L-glutamine and zinc alongside easy to absorb vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and live bacteria is a great way to retain this newly improved gut health.

Ongoing support to help manage symptoms is an essential part of any treatment strategy for IBS sufferers.

Claudia, your BioMed Health Care Professional, can help and guide you throughout this healing approach to reaching optimum health.

Book a consultation now. 

BioMed recommends Nutri Advanced as a reliable and trustworthy supplier of all the vitamins and supplements referred to in the above article.

*Rachel Bartholomew BA (Hons), Dip ION, mBANT, CNHC, GHW

Indigestion, or dyspepsia, describes an upset stomach. It may cause a painful or burning feeling in your abdomen. Also called a sour stomach, indigestion may happen once in a while or often. Indigestion is a general term that speaks to a wide range of digestive issues. Heartburn, on the other hand, occurs when stomach acid escapes into your oesophagus. It is one type of indigestion.

Heartburn

Heartburn, also known as acid reflux, is a painful condition occurring when stomach acid flows up into your oesophagus, causing a burning sensation behind the breast bone area. Heartburn can last from a few minutes to several hours, and often feels worse after you eat.

What causes heartburn?

While most heartburn sufferers may recognize the symptoms of the condition, few are aware of how it starts. The root cause of heartburn stems from a weakened lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), or when the LES relaxes abnormally. The LES is a circular band of muscle at the bottom of your oesophagus, and it acts like a 'valve' as it enters the stomach. Normally when you swallow, your LES relaxes to let food and liquid flow into your stomach, and then it closes again. For some people, though, the LES may open too often or not close tight enough. When this happens, the acid in your stomach can flow back up into your oesophagus. Since your oesophagus doesn't have the same protective lining that your stomach does, the acid can irritate its more sensitive tissues, causing heartburn and discomfort.

What Triggers Heartburn?

Heartburn can be triggered by various things, including some medications, but eating is the main culprit. It can be caused by the specific foods you eat as well as by eating too much, or simply eating a big, heavy meal close to bedtime. Carbonated and alcoholic beverages can also give you heartburn. People who are overweight often suffer from heartburn. Even a few extra pounds can put pressure on your stomach, causing acid to back up into your oesophagus.

GERD

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is acid reflux that occurs regularly. Reflux by itself isn't unusual. GERD, on the other hand, develops when acid reflux happens two or more times a week and produces troublesome symptoms.

GERD is one of the most common disorders seen by general practitioners and gastroenterologists. The symptoms of GERD can include cough, hoarseness, asthma, dental erosions, chest pain, and sleep disturbances. If left untreated, GERD may lead to some serious health problems.

Since GERD is chronic acid reflux, the same causes apply. Smoking, being overweight or pregnant, or eating spicy, fatty, fried, or acidic foods all are associated with GERD. The symptoms of GERD are similar to those of heartburn—a burning sensation in your chest, a sour or bitter taste in your throat, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain after lying down.

Gastritis

Your stomach has a protective lining of mucus called the mucosa. This lining protects your stomach from the strong stomach acid that digests food. When something damages or weakens this protective lining, the mucosa becomes inflamed, causing gastritis.

It may present as acute or chronic, erosive or non-erosive disease. Erosive gastritis causes both inflammation and erosion of the stomach lining. Non-erosive causes inflammation of the stomach lining without erosion or compromising the stomach lining.

Causes of gastritis include bacterial infection, the most common type being Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) , damage to the gastric mucosa caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alcohol, stress, or an autoimmune response (e.g. Crohn’s disease, sarcoidosis). Gastritis, which is often asymptomatic, can, however, mimic indigestion symptoms. If the gastritis is symptomatic, common symptoms are upper abdominal discomfort or pain, nausea, and vomiting.

The risk of developing gastritis goes up with age. Older adults have thinner stomach linings, decreased circulation and a slower metabolism of mucosal repair. Older adults are also more likely to be on medications such as NSAIDs.

How is gastritis treated?

Treatment for gastritis varies depending on the cause. Certain medications kill bacteria (antibiotics) while others, such as antacids and H2 blockers, alleviate indigestion like symptoms by decreasing stomach acid production and relieving inflammation.

Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and lansoprazole also reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. PPIs are used to treat stomach ulcers and GERD as well.

Conventional Approach

The most common management strategy for treating all these conditions is reduction of gastric acidity to relieve symptoms and promote repair of the stomach lining. Medications that reduce the amount of acid in the stomach include antacids such as aluminium and magnesium salts, ranitidine, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole and lansoprazole.

Doctors in the UK write about 50 million prescriptions every year for PPIs.

PPIs

Though PPIs are a highly effective treatment of indigestion, heartburn, GERD and gastritis, and are generally safe, studies have shown that over prolonged use is associated with minor and also potentially major adverse health outcomes, such as osteoporosis, acute and chronic renal diseases.

There is up to a 20% risk of developing the bone thinning condition osteoporosis because the drugs hinder the ability of the stomach to absorb calcium – a mineral vital for healthy bones. It has also been shown that taking PPIs in the long term can lead to other nutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin-b12, essential for healthy blood cells and nerve function.

PPIs are often prescribed alongside anti-inflammatory medication such as NSAIDs, steroids and aspirin to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with those drugs.

Whilst treatment guidelines clearly recommend not using antacids for long periods, withdrawal of PPIs has been demonstrated to cause rebound hyper-acidity even after short periods of use. Many patients experience a worsening of symptoms after withdrawal.

A safe and effective alternative treatment

Gastricumeel (Ga6)

In the search for a natural, safe and effective alternative to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of patients with dyspepsia and/or heartburn, in depth studies have been carried out by the International Institute for Integrated Medicine, into Gastricumeel (Ga6).

Ga6 is a natural combination medicinal product consisting of six ingredients traditionally used for the treatment of bloating, acid reflux, and other gastritis-related symptoms as well as for heartburn.

The majority of these studies included Ga6 as part of complex protocols with other homeopathic medicinal products and/or with standard conventional treatments. No direct comparison of Ga6 with a standard therapy has been previously investigated.

Conclusion

This study informs health care professionals about the effectiveness and safety of Ga6 in patients with dyspepsia and/or heartburn.

The results suggest that it is worth considering Ga6 as a safe and effective alternative treatment option in the management of dyspepsia and heartburn. In addition, Ga6 has a potential role to play in supporting patients who find it difficult to withdraw from PPIs.

To read the full report please click on the link

Please contact BioMed to discuss the above issues or any other health concerns you may have.

Or perhaps you have spent years frustrated that you can’t seem to gain muscle. It could be partly due to your somatotype or body type.

William H. Sheldon, PhD, MD, introduced the concept of body types, or somatotypes, in the 1940s. He reasoned that people are born with an inherited body type – that they have a genetic physical predisposition to a certain physique based on skeletal frame and body composition. He proposed that there are common elements among body types that suggests how much muscle or fat you tend to have, as well as how fast or slow your metabolism may be, and thus how easy or difficult it may be for you to lose weight.

Since then, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and even doctors have used it to help design effective, individualized fitness plans. The gist is that everyone falls, though not altogether neatly, into one of three categories. Keep in mind that these are generalizations, and that most of us have characteristics of two or even all three somatotypes.

Benefits of knowing your body type

Knowing your dominant body type can help guide you toward healthy habits that will work best for your body to maximize your potential, not get frustrated by your limitations, and help you form more realistic goals. If you’re doing the same thing as someone else who doesn’t have your same body structure, you won’t get the same results. It helps to realign your expectations with what is possible for you.

But what exactly do these terms mean? And how does it affect athletic performance and training goals? Some experts say that by pinpointing your body type and understanding its unique strengths and challenges, you can tailor a diet and exercise plan that gets you faster to your nutritional goals and optimise physical abilities for your health and physique.

Ectomorphs

Those with an ectomorph body type are long and lean, with little body fat, and little muscle. They possess fast metabolisms. With low body fat and a smaller build, ectomorphs genetically find it harder than the other body types to gain bodyweight or build muscle mass. An athletic archetype of an ectomorph is the marathon runner.

Ectomorph Physical Traits

• Slight frame and bone structure
• Narrow shoulders
• Naturally lean
• Flat chest
• Fast metabolism
• Finds it difficult to gain weight
• Finds building additional muscle mass challenging

Diet

Ectomorphs tend to respond well to carbohydrates, so you can eat those freely. You’ll just want to choose healthy sources, including fibre-rich fruits, veggies, and whole grains. To optimize your health, reach for plenty of protein, including from lean animal sources and plants like nuts and seeds. Prioritizing protein will help with your muscle-building efforts. For snacks and meals, choose nutrient- and calorie-dense foods like nuts, dried fruits, sunflower seeds, and starchy vegetables, rather than lower-cal choices like fresh fruits and popcorn. Don't skimp on fat, either - make sure that 30% of your calories come from fat.

Excercise

When exercising, ectomorphs should keep cardio or aerobic training to a minimum while concentrating on muscle-building moves with fairly heavy weights.

Endomorphs

Endomorphs, on the other hand, have lots of body fat, lots of muscle, and gain weight easily. An endomorph body type is naturally predisposed to a ‘softer’ body mass and a higher body fat ratio. With a slower metabolism than the other body types, endomorphs are insulin dominant, meaning that their body more readily stores energy as body fat. However, endomorphs also gain muscle with relative ease. With the correct training and nutritional approach, endomorph athletes can truly optimise their physique and athletic performance, effectively harnessing their natural strength.

• Endomorph Physical Traits
• Soft body with minimal natural muscle definition
• Tend towards a round body shape
• Prone to gaining fat
• Usually, have a larger bone structure
• Slower metabolism
• Finds it more difficult than the other body types to lose fat

Diet

Endomorphs have slower metabolisms so don’t burn calories as fast as ectomorphs and mesomorphs. Excess calories are more likely to convert to fat. Some believe you’re also less tolerant to carbohydrates, so the best diet for your body type may be one with a higher fat and protein intake and a lower carbohydrate intake to help you lose body fat while keeping your energy level up.

If you're an endomorph, avoid crash dieting. It will only make your body cling to its fat reserves. Instead, adjust your diet so you're eating more frequent, smaller meals, no more than 5 hours apart. Try to eat slowly, and drink plenty of water. Eat lean proteins and high-fibre foods to help you feel full longer. And don't be fooled by the fat-free fad -- you need a little fat to stay healthy.

Excercise

Endomorphs should do at least 30 minutes of moderately-paced aerobic activity five days a week. Try walking, jogging, bicycling, dancing, or any other activity that gets your heart pumping. When the pounds start coming off, add weight training two or three times a week to tone and strengthen your muscles.

Mesomorphs

A person who is a mesomorph is said to be genetically predisposed to having an athletic body, with a medium frame and bone structure. They are also thin, but not wiry, and if they work out, they find they build muscle easily. They both gain and lose weight without too much effort.

Mesomorph Physical Traits

• Medium frame
• Athletic and toned body
• Muscle definition
• Generally rectangular-shaped body
• Strong
• Gains muscle easily

Diet

According to the tenets of the body type diet, people with mesomorph bodies should follow a balanced and well-rounded diet that doesn’t cut out food groups unnecessarily - a diet divided fairly evenly between the macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat). Mesomorphs tend to have good insulin sensitivity so they can eat a moderate amount of carbohydrates without wreaking havoc on their blood sugar levels. Genetically lucky mesomorphs may have an easier time than most staying slim and fit, but this can lead to a tendency to assume that they can handle an extra helping of dessert or a hiatus from the gym. But the same rules for health and well-being apply to them as to everyone else.

Excercise

While mesomorphs are generally strong and muscular, they also run the risk of unwanted weight gain if they get off track with their diet and focus on weight lifting alone. A mesomorph workout must incorporate regular cardiovascular exercise if the goal is to stay lean and slim.

Combination somatotypes

It’s common to feel you fit the characteristics of more than one somatotype. Some people tend to gain fat or muscle more in one part of the body than another. Classic combination somatotypes include pear-shaped ecto-endomorphs with thin, delicate upper bodies and high fat storage in the hips and thighs, and apple-shaped endo-ectomorphs, with high fat storage in the mid-section and thin lower bodies.

This is a condition where a person cannot think clearly about everyday matters. Though this is a prevalent condition it isn’t widely recognised as an illness in many medical or psychological writings.

The reason is simple – physicians are not taught of its significance in medical school. This under-education leads to tremendous confusion among the public and professionals alike between various memory loss conditions and their differentiation. Brain fog, because of its rather mild presentation, is ignored as a significant clinical condition.

What is Brain Fog?

Brain Fog has been described as a feeling of mental confusion where the individual lacks mental clarity. It’s as if there is a loss of focus, and a sensation of “so close and yet so far”. The term “fog” is used because it feels as if a cloud comes over your thought process that reduces your ability to think clearly. This may cause an individual to become excessively forgetful, though long term memory remains intact. It can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days or weeks. Its onset can be gradual or sudden. Usually, there is no direct physical trauma to the brain involved. Most people know something is wrong but cannot put their finger on it. Most don’t take it seriously and consider it part of life or the ageing process. But brain health is not only critical to mental capacity but is also paramount to emotional well being.

What makes this condition perplexing is that the fogginess can come and go. It can be related to food, menstrual cycle, body temperature, activity level, sleep cycle irregularity, stress, hydration status, exercise, and many other seemingly insignificant events that only become obvious on careful retrospective examination.

Severe brain fog can lead to inferior work performance among those whose career relies on a high degree of mental acuity. Severe chronic brain fog can ultimately lead to discouragement and depression.

Some common signs of brain fog

There are a number of indicators that can show if you are experiencing the symptoms of typical brain fog and the most common are:

• Sudden occurrences of memory loss with a noticeable and sudden decline in your short-term memory capacity.
• An inability to navigate familiar spaces and places with a natural ease.
• General feelings of fuzziness and a marked inability to think coherently and clearly.
• The constant feeling that your mind is moving through a thick fog or haze.
• A reduction in the ability to pay attention and focus on detail.
• Loss of overall mental sharpness and brain performance.
• Difficulty concentrating or a lack of focus when talking to people or when watching a film or reading a book.
• Difficulty in forming sentences verbally or expressing your thoughts to others.
• Feelings of mental exhaustion and an incapacity to absorb new information.
• A reduced ability to perform common tasks that are familiar to you.

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and Brain Fog

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is very common today. It reflects an imbalance of the body’s neuroendocrine system. Classic symptoms include fatigue, low libido, hypoglycaemia, anxiety, brain fog, constipation, insomnia, heart palpitation, and depression. During AFS, the entire body slows down to conserve energy as a survival mechanism. As the liver slows down, metabolic clearance reduces while laboratory values continue to be normal. Internal accumulation of unwanted metabolites can travel to the brain, causing brain fog. This is very common.

Recovery usually requires a comprehensive program focused on the adrenal glands that include a nutritional diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes. BioMed is on a mission to help people become completely fatigue free with a newly developed Fatigue Recovery Formula which includes a free brain fog guide. Follow the link to BioMed Lifestyle Club to find out more.

While AFS is frequently associated with brain fog, there are many other possible causation factors as well.

What Causes Brain Fog?

Brain fog can have many different causes but in the majority of cases, it is brought on by nutritional, metabolic, hormonal, and biochemical imbalances that stem from a variety of factors.

The neuroendocrine system is the primary conduit of memory function. Dysfunction of this system is the most common cause of brain fog.

There are many conditions that can be associated or act as a trigger of brain fog.

Brain fog can be a symptom of a nutrient deficiency, sleep disorder, bacterial overgrowth from overconsumption of sugar, depression, or even a thyroid condition. Other common brain fog causes include eating too much and too often, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, chronic stress, and a poor diet. These are some of the most common causes of brain fog.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal transitions are common throughout your life, whether during pregnancy, post-partum, menopause, or just unexpected changes in your environment and lifestyle. Often these periods leave your brain feeling fuzzy and confused—one study found that 60 percent of women have difficulty concentrating during menopause. In some cases, changing mood or sleeping habits could be contributing to your foggy head feelings, but it could also be due to the fluctuating hormone levels while your body tries to restore balance.

Impaired sleep

Poor sleep hygiene, like an irregular sleep and wake time, getting less than seven to eight hours of sleep a night, or blue light exposure before bed disrupts your natural circadian rhythm – that is your internal body clock. This contributes to brain fog in a few different ways. In the case of blue light exposure close to bedtime, the blue wavelengths decrease the hormone melatonin that is essential for deep REM sleep. Both REM and non REM sleep is required to consolidate and process memories from the day. During the hours of 10pm and 2am is when your body and brain detoxify the most, so remaining in an active state during this time disrupts the body’s natural detoxification process and can contribute to fogginess.

Diet deficiencies and food sensitivities

Vitamin B12 contributes to the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of your central nervous system. It’s why a deficiency in B12 is sure to impair your energy levels and elicit an overall feeling of fatigue. A vitamin D deficiency can also be behind brain fog as decreased vitamin D levels are associated with impaired cognitive function. An unidentified food intolerance can also contribute to the foggy head feeling you’re experiencing. For example, gluten intolerance can lead to cognitive dysfunction via inflammatory pathways.

Stress

Though stress may seem like a common and relatively harmless term, chronic stress can wreak havoc on your body. When your body perceives a stressful situation, it activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), or the fight-or-flight response. This response triggers the release of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, and norepinephrine, and ultimately diverts energy away from your body’s typical functions and towards the stressor. This can make it difficult to think clearly, harder to focus, and could exhaust your brain. Learning to reduce your stress over time through interventions like meditation, exercise, or dietary changes, may help when your brain feels foggy.

Medication

Certain medications—both prescription and over the counter—are known to cause brain fog as a side effect. Though your head feeling cloudy while taking medication may be made out to seem normal and expected, it’s not. At BioMed we believe in lifestyle interventions that solve your underlying issues before turning to medication. But if medication is necessary, your doctor can help you determine if your medication is compromising your brain health and work with you to find the right remedy—whether that’s changing medications or lowering your dosage.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety have been shown to impair cognitive function, affecting executive function, attention, and memory. Research suggests that this could be linked to either the loss of energy and motivation associated with mental health conditions, or physiological effects on the brain that make it difficult to function properly. If you struggle with depression or anxiety, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options.

Thyroid disorders

Whether you feel tired all the time, lack focus and mental clarity, or deal with mood changes, a thyroid disorder may be at the root of your symptoms. This butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck is responsible for producing and releasing hormones that control everything from metabolism and heart rate to breathing and menstrual cycles and are frequently linked to brain fog. This is especially true with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune immune disease where your immune system affects your thyroid by inhibiting it from producing enough thyroid hormones and creating an inflammatory state. But whether your thyroid gland is producing too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), this could be causing your brain fog. Other symptoms of a thyroid disorder can include weight loss or gain, fatigue, muscle weakness and digestive issues.

Heavy metal exposure

Heavy metals are everywhere in our daily lives—our food, beauty products, and even teeth fillings. The most common sources of heavy metal exposure are arsenic, mercury, aluminium, lead, thallium, and caesium. And while limited amounts of these metals won’t necessarily cause toxicity, heavy metal accumulation resulting from chronic exposure overtime can cause immune dysfunction, hormone imbalance, fatigue, brain fog, and high blood pressure. Testing levels of heavy metals in your blood is a good way to ensure your body is toxin-free, and regularly incorporating detox practices like heart-rate raising physical activity or weekly sauna sessions is a great start to keeping your levels under control and reducing any symptoms.

Covid-19 

Brain fog is now also recognised as a condition associated with having had Covid-19. Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 have reported feeling not like themselves: experiencing short-term memory loss, confusion, an inability to concentrate, and just feeling differently than they did before contracting the infection.

How to clear brain fog

To get to the root cause of any issues and resolve brain fog, Claudia, your Health Care Professional at BioMed will initially carry out an overall health assessment through in depth consultation, with the option of Computerised Health Screening.

This comprehensive information enables Claudia to develop a Personalised Health Plan based on your individual specific requirements.

 Book a consultation here.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, providing the "building blocks" for the structure and support of the connective tissues, which include cartilage, muscle, skin, as well as joints and bones. It is what holds the body together, like scaffolding, to provide structure and strength. 

COLLAGEN IS THE 'GLUE' THAT HOLDS THE BODY TOGETHER

Collagen is a protein that’s best described as the ‘glue’ that holds the body together. In fact, the word collagen is derived from the Greek word ‘kolla’ which literally translates as glue. It is the most important component of connective tissues, and is tough, fairly rigid and delivers structural support and a mechanical resistance to stretching.

COLLAGEN IS THE MOST ABUNDANT PROTEIN IN THE BODY

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals; it represents approximately 70% of cartilage, 25% of the whole-body protein content and 5% of the entire body mass. Collagen is found in cartilage, bones, teeth, skin, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, internal organs and even the cornea of the eye.

COLLAGEN IS PRODUCED NATURALLY IN THE BODY & PRODUCTION DECLINES WITH AGE

Our bodies produce collagen from building blocks found in protein foods called amino acids. Collagen contains 19 different amino acids; it has a particularly high content of proline, which is a major component of collagen. Silicon is a trace mineral that’s not generally accepted as an essential nutrient but is known to have beneficial effects, especially on connective tissue and bone formation. This is likely due, in part, to the fact that silicon is a cofactor of the enzyme ornithine aminotransferase, which is responsible for the formation of proline from ornithine. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production too, hence why a vitamin C deficiency causes the connective tissue disease scurvy.

Collagen production decreases naturally with age, from about the age of 25 onwards, and this decline seems to be more pronounced in women following menopause. Some estimates suggest that we may lose up to 50% of our collagen by the age of 60. Clearly visible outward signs of collagen decline are wrinkles and sagging skin, but the same is also happening on the inside of the body too, to the myriad of connective tissues that we can’t see. Supporting our body’s collagen production processes is crucial, especially as we age.

COMMON DIET & LIFESTYLE FACTORS DAMAGE COLLAGEN

As well as collagen production naturally declining with age, there are many common diet and lifestyle factors that can actually damage collagen; one of the most obvious visible examples of this is the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays on our skin. In addition, alcohol, smoking, high sugar diet, stress, lack of sleep and low dietary intake of vitamin C can damage collagen. In contrast, a diet rich in a wide variety of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, supplying optimal amounts of vitamin C and key antioxidants can help to protect collagen and support its production too.*

COLLAGEN CAN BE TAKEN IN SUPPLEMENT FORM

You can take collagen in supplement form to help provide the body with the raw ingredients needed to produce it. This is best supplied in the form of collagen hydrolysate; a form of collagen that has been broken down into peptide fragments. Collagen hydrolysates are considered to be able to cross the intestinal barrier, reach the circulation and therefore become available for metabolic processes. Orally consumed collagen hydrolysate has been shown to be absorbed intestinally and to accumulate in cartilage.

COLLAGEN RENEWAL AND PRP THERAPY

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, available at BioMed, utilises activated platelets containing at least seven different growth factors, to stimulate new collagen growth and repair the skin using your body’s natural healing processes. The procedure consists of a small amount of blood being drawn and spun in a centrifuge machine. This separates the Platelet-Rich Plasma, which is then reintroduced to the treatment area. BOOK A CONSULTATION 

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Glass half empty or half full?

Having a positive growth-oriented mindset isn’t just about being happy. A positive mindset sets you up for success — and there is neuroscience

behind why that happens. But first, why are humans wired to think negatively?

The Psychology Behind Negative Thinking

Unfortunately, many of us are conditioned to have an unhelpful mindset.

How does this happen?

Each of us learns how to relate to the world based on the following social agents — family, peers, culture, schooling, religion, the media, and work environments.

We come to unconscious conclusions about who we are, what we are capable of, our ability to learn and improve based on our social conditioning.

This means that much of what you believe to be true isn’t your belief to begin with.

Through decades of conditioning and repeated messages, we end up with beliefs about who we are which are meant to keep us safe. And safe is the opposite of success.

You may have heard of the ego or the unconscious mind. Your subconscious makes up about 90% of your mind and is responsible for your emotions,

habits, long-term memory, and beliefs.

Through learned experience and socialization, your subconscious mind has learned the beliefs that will keep you safe; these are doubt, fear, and scarcity.

Through these beliefs, the ego works to protect you and prove itself right. If deep down you believe you are unworthy of success, the ego will dissuade you

from any meaningful action in your career that might result in success.

Let’s say you want a promotion, but you’ve been conditioned to believe you are unworthy through decades of negative reinforcement about your abilities by

your parents. Even though you want the promotion and are qualified, deep down, you believe you are unworthy. Your mind will look for proof. That’s when

our negative thinking begins to take over. "I don’t deserve the promotion. I’m not good enough. I don’t know enough about budgeting.

What if I get the promotion and I’m not good at my job, and everyone thinks I’m an imposter?"

This is how the mind works. It protects you from the unknown by bringing up fear of rejection, ridicule, and failure and might justify those fears with examples from the past.

Neural Plasticity

Our overly protective minds are ancient machines that thrived in the fight or flight times when we were being chased by large animals and might be killed by a storm.

In those times, our Palaeolithic ancestors needed the brain to be overly protective because everything was a threat, and the unfamiliar was dangerous.

In today’s modern age, we do not need the ego to keep us safe because most of us are fortunate enough to meet our basic needs.

Is it time to update your programming?

Now is the time to rewire your brain to be more positive. Time to re-programme your brain by creating new neural pathways.

This is a concept called neuroplasticity

When you begin to work on your mindset, you start to see a ripple effect for the rest of your life.

Then something magical happens — just like a tide lifts all the boats in the harbor, your mindset lifts all the other areas of your life, making change in any area easier than ever before. It’s easier to have good relationships. It’s easier to stick to healthy habits. It’s more enjoyable to take care of yourself. It’s easier to take action in your career. Everything gets better.

Are you ready to change your mindset so you can change your ENTIRE life?

3 Strategies to Cultivate a Positive Mindset

1. Radical Acceptance

Most of us go through life resisting; we resist change, resist challenging situations, and resist the true nature of things.

By radically accepting a situation for what it is, even if we don’t like it (instead of fighting against it or resisting it), we gain peace.

Take this pandemic, for example: We can choose to rebel against the restrictions, complain about having to wear masks, and focus our

energy and attention on resisting something that we cannot change, OR we can choose to accept what is happening in the world.

We can choose to believe that although it's a terrible situation, we accept the pain. That's how we eliminate suffering—by accepting the pain.

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Suffering comes from resisting pain.

When you resist something you cannot change, you choose to suffer, but if we let go and focus on what we can control, our perspective changes, and we free ourselves.

2. Repeating Affirmations

Our subconscious mind is responsible for our long-term memory, emotions, beliefs about the world, habits and impulsive urges, and intuition and creativity.

The only way we can rewire our subconscious mind is through repetition.

So while you may think it's silly to stare at yourself in the mirror and talk to yourself, repeating affirmations is a psychology-backed strategy that will dramatically

improve your life if you give it a chance. If we repeat the same thing over and over, we start to believe it. If we attach positive feelings to the new beliefs, our lives start to change.

Positivity and negativity are like muscles. If you work out the positive one, you'll end up with a strong positive mind. And if you don't train the negative, it will atrophy.

By strengthening the positive, you weaken the negative.

Try repeating positively framed affirmations with the words I am. By saying I am, you are attaching your identity to new truths you want to affirm.

Even if you think it's silly at first, repeating affirmations reprograms your brain to be more positive.

3. Reframing Thoughts

The third strategy will be a little challenging at first, but over time you'll strengthen your positivity.

This strategy involves doing mental push-ups or reframing thoughts. The more mental push-ups you do, the better and faster you get at them.

This is how we develop mental fortitude. When you have strong mental fortitude, it's like there is a force field around your mind, and negativity simply bounces off.

So how do we do this?

When we reframe thoughts, we first become aware of what we are thinking, quickly determine if this line of thought is helping or hindering us,

and immediately challenge ourselves to think three positive thoughts.

STEP 1: Become aware of your negative thinking

STEP 2: Determine if the thought is helpful or unhelpful

STEP 3: Immediately think of three positive thoughts and/or say them OUT LOUD

Neural plasticity indicates that we can reprogram our brain through these three psychology-backed strategies.

Though these are powerful strategies, it takes time and practice to cultivate a positive mindset, but the result is an overall better quality of life.

In Summary

Your mindset determines your outcomes in life. If you want to be successful and live a happy life, you have to commit to bettering your mindset by

upgrading your unhelpful negative programming and creating new neural pathways.

Claudia’s BioMed Lifestyle Club offers a comprehensive masterclass - which includes strategies to change your mindset - as part of the The-Ultimate-Fatigue-Recovery-Formula.

Cultivating a positive mind takes time and practice, but the more you apply these strategies to your life, the more you will see a difference in the way you think, and soon, your external world will be a reflection of your internal world.

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Many different cells make cholesterol but cells in the liver make about a quarter of the total. It is an essential part of every cell in our body and has many important functions. For example, it is used as a building block to make hormones such cortisol, testosterone and progesterone. It is used to make bile acids, which help to digest fat. And it is a component of vitamin D. We all need some cholesterol in our blood to stay healthy, but too much can lead to serious health problems in the future, including heart attacks and strokes.

How does cholesterol work?

In a similar way that we use roads to get from one place to another, cholesterol uses the blood as its transport system. It can’t travel on its own though, so it attaches itself to ‘vehicles’ made up of proteins. These combos of cholesterol and proteins are called lipoproteins (lipo comes from the Greek word for fat).

In this way, cholesterol is transported around the body and deposited at various points where it’s needed.

There are two main groups of lipoproteins:

1. Non-high density lipoproteins (non-HDL) – or ‘bad’ cholesterol mainly LDL.

2. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) – often called ‘good’ cholesterol.

LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol

LDL lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to destinations that need it, such as cells and tissues. However, if the smooth surface of the transport system – the arteries – are damaged, LDL can lose some of its cholesterol along the way. When LDL levels are raised, there’s a greater chance that cholesterol will be deposited in the arteries. Over time, this cholesterol can start to build up in the arteries and combine with other substances to form a fatty plaque known as an atheroma in the artery walls. This causes the arteries to narrow and harden – a process known as atherosclerosis. This means blood flows less easily around the body and our heart has to work harder to pump it around. That’s why LDL is called ‘bad’ cholesterol.

HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol

HDL lipoproteins carry excess cholesterol away from the arteries and takes it to the liver. Here, cholesterol is broken down and then eliminated from the body. Higher HDL levels mean there’s more traffic available to pick up cholesterol from cells and take it back to base, removing it from the transport system before it has a chance to build up in the arteries. As a result, high HDL levels are good news for overall blood cholesterol, and coronary heart disease risk and the reason why HDL is called ‘good’ cholesterol.

Checking your cholesterol levels

High cholesterol doesn’t normally have any signs or symptoms, so to find out what your cholesterol level is usually involves a simple blood test.

Total cholesterol

This is sometimes written as ‘serum cholesterol’ or ‘TC’ and refers to the overall level of cholesterol, but it’s not just the total cholesterol that’s important.

Non-HDL cholesterol

Your non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol. It’s the LDL and all the other ‘bad’ cholesterol added together, and ideally should be as low as possible.

TC:HDL ratio

You might be given a ratio of HDL compared to the total cholesterol, written as TC:HDL ratio. You can work it out from your HDL and total cholesterol numbers.

This should be as low as possible. Above 6 is considered high.

HDL cholesterol

Your HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein, or ‘good’ cholesterol) helps clear the cholesterol out of your arteries, while your LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, or ‘bad’ cholesterol) can clog them up. So your HDL cholesterol should be above 1mmol/L in men and above 1.2mmol/L in women, ideally around 1.4mmol/L. Currently specialists believe that levels above this may not provide additional protection.

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

A number of things can lead to high cholesterol:

• Eating too much saturated fat.

• Smoking.

• Drinking more alcohol than is recommended.

• Not being physically active.

Your overall health and other health problems can have an effect, for example:

• Being overweight.

• An underactive thyroid gland.

• Type 2 diabetes.

• Liver disease.

• Kidney disease.

• Certain medications.

High cholesterol can be genetic, meaning you inherit it from your parents:

• Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH for short) can cause very high cholesterol, even if you have a healthy lifestyle.

• There are other genetic causes of high cholesterol too.

Who can be affected?

Anyone can have high cholesterol – even if you are young, slim, eat well and exercise. It’s true that as we move through the decades towards retirement age, the more likely we are to have raised total cholesterol. However, after the age of 65 years, the percentage of people with high total cholesterol starts to drop.

Added to this, the latest figures show that more than one in six young adults aged between 16 and 24 years have high total cholesterol. This increases to more than a third – 35% – of 25 to 34 year olds.

Interpreting your results

Your cholesterol results should be interpreted in relation to any other risk factors you may have

and any other health conditions (such as diabetes). Because of other risk factors or medical conditions, your Health Care Professional may recommend making changes in your diet or lifestyle to lower your cholesterol level.

The good news is that even the small steps you take to lower your cholesterol all add up. You’ll also lower your risk of other illnesses or stop them from getting worse.

Lowering your cholesterol can typically be done through a combination of regular exercise and healthy habits in your lifestyle, however some people will need medication to manage their cholesterol.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

For many people, a few simple lifestyle changes are often the first – and only – line of treatment needed to lower cholesterol. Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can keep your cholesterol levels in check and your heart healthier.

Better still, many of these lifestyle changes can have many other benefits that help to keep our heart – and other parts of our body – healthy, too, including lowering high blood pressure and helping us lose weight.

Exercise

Being active is a major part of looking after your cholesterol levels, keeping your heart healthy and preventing heart disease.

Regular physical activity also helps to control weight and ease stress.

Ideally, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on at least five days of the week but even 10 minutes is better than nothing.

You should aim to do at least a couple of sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week as week as well.

Regular exercise can:

• Raise your HDL cholesterol levels – the good cholesterol which removes fat from your arteries.

• Lower your LDL cholesterol – the kind that builds up in your arteries.

• Help you to lose weight or stay a healthy weight.

• Lower your blood pressure.

• Lower the risk of diabetes and help control diabetes.

Changes to your diet

To an extent your blood cholesterol level can vary depending on your diet. However, different people who eat the same diet can have different blood cholesterol levels.

In general, however, if you eat less fatty food in your diet your cholesterol level is likely to go down. A combination of diet and lifestyle changes are key to reducing cholesterol.

For some, dietary changes alone can have a big impact.

The degree to which cholesterol is lowered depends on a number of factors such as the quality of the baseline diet, the number and magnitude of dietary changes made and how long these changes are maintained. For some people this might be enough, but for others extra help from medication might be needed. This can be discussed with your Health Care Professional.

To see significant changes in cholesterol levels, it's important to take a whole-diet approach. It's about eating more of certain foods and less of others.

It has been shown that gradually changing what you eat with small swaps and adding in foods which actively lower cholesterol, rather than reforming it overnight, can transform your diet and make it more likely that you'll stick to it long-term.

To achieve a balanced diet it is recommend that you:

• Cut down on foods high in saturated fat and replace these with foods rich in healthy unsaturated fats, including vegetable and nut oils (excluding palm and coconut oils), spreads made from vegetable oils, oily fish, avocado, nuts and seeds.
• Eat plenty of plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, pulses, wholegrains, nuts and seeds.
• Include two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily (mackerel, sardines, salmon).

Once you've created your balanced base diet, it is recommended that you add foods from each of four key groups with additional cholesterol-lowering effects.

Plant stanols and sterols

Sterols and stanols are plant compounds which have a similar size and shape to cholesterol. They work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the gut, so reducing the amount of cholesterol getting into the bloodstream.

Tiny amounts of sterols and stanols can be found in a range of plant-based foods but eating fortified foods like milk, yoghurt drinks and spreads can help you to eat enough.

Eating 1.5 to 2.4 g of plant sterol or stanols daily can reduce blood cholesterol by between 7 and 10% over the course of two to three weeks. It's important to note that they need to be eaten on a regular basis and as part of a meal because they only work by mixing with the food you have eaten.

Oats and barley

Whole grains are key to a balanced diet plus they are particularly effective in the fight against high cholesterol because they contain a particular type of fibre called beta-glucan which has been shown to lower cholesterol.

Beta glucan works by forming a gel which binds to cholesterol and bile (which is made from cholesterol) in the intestines. This helps limit the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from the gut into your blood. Your liver has to take more cholesterol out of your blood to make more bile, which also lowers your blood cholesterol.

Eating 3 g of beta-glucan a day over three to twelve weeks can reduce LDL-cholesterol by around 7%.

To achieve this:

• Eat a bowl of porridge oats.
• Opt for bread made with some oat flour.
• Sprinkle oat bran in soup.
• Include pearl barley in casseroles.
• Choose oat cakes as a snack.

Nuts

It has been shown that eating just a handful of nuts a day (approximately 28-30 g) can reduce LDL cholesterol by around 7%. And that's not the only benefit of eating nuts.

As well as a cholesterol-lowering effect, eating this amount of nuts a day has been associated with a significant reduction in heart disease and improved vascular function as they are rich in unsaturated fat, fibre, plant proteins, vitamin E, natural plant sterols, and minerals like magnesium and potassium.

All nuts count but choose unsalted nuts and opt for nuts with their skins still intact and unroasted varieties as these contain additional nutrients.

Soya foods

Eating 25 g of soya protein every day also helps to lower cholesterol. Soya protein can be found in products like tofu, soya mince, edamame beans, soya nuts and soya alternatives to dairy.

Choosing soya foods instead of foods high in saturated fats can help regulate cholesterol levels.

If you would like to discuss this or any other health concern you may have,

please contact Claudia Carrillo your Health Care Professional at BioMed Natural Health.

...as discovered in a study by King’s College London. However, there’s a difference between feeling anxious and experiencing an anxiety disorder. In this blog we look at some of the physical and mental symptoms, different types of anxiety disorder, the main causes, and ways to cope with and treat it. Being armed with information, tips and tricks can really help. Please click on link to BioMed Lifestyle Club’s in depth guide to How to conquer anxiety.

What is anxiety?

You’ve probably heard about anxiety many times, but what does it actually mean to experience it? Anxiety is a common mental health problem that refers to being in a persistent state of worry or displaying excessive amounts of fear. Everyone worries about things now and again, but to suffer from anxiety disorder means that worrying has a debilitating impact on your daily life.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in the world, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggesting that 1 in 13 people globally suffer from an anxiety disorder. So if you’re dealing with one, know that you’re absolutely not alone. Anxiety is more prevalent in women and young people, which could be for a number of reasons. While women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety than men, 7.2% of 5-19-year-olds experience an anxiety condition.

What causes anxiety?

There is not one obvious cause of anxiety. Rather there are many different causes, often related to your personality, upbringing and life circumstances. It could be that you’re struggling with anxiety and depression in everyday life, it has stemmed from the impact of remote working or it has been brought on by society or social media. Below, we go into more detail about the potential causes of anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety will vary depending on the disorder, but most anxiety conditions will involve several or most of the symptoms detailed below. The following symptoms will be most accurate in depicting people suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Physical symptoms

• Feeling light-headed or dizzy
• Sweating or feeling hot
• Increased heart rate
• Panic attacks
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Rapid breathing or hyperventilation
• Nausea or painful stomach
• Aches and pains in your body
• Feeling weak and tired
• Insomnia
• Changes in sex drive

Mental symptoms

• Feeling nervous, irritable, or tense
• Low mood and depression
• Experiencing a sense of impending danger or fearing the worst
• Constantly worrying about things
• Needing reassurance from other people
• Feeling like everyone is watching you
• Derealisation: a form of disassociation where you feel like the world isn’t real or you’re not connected to it
• Depersonalisation: a form of disassociation where you don’t feel connected to yourself, as if you’re watching yourself from an outside perspective

What are the main types of anxiety?

There are many different anxiety disorders, but we’re going to discuss four of the main types in this blog. Other disorders related to anxiety that we won’t go into as much detail about include OCD, PTSD, separation anxiety and agoraphobia. For help and more information on these disorders, check out Mind, a UK mental health support charity.

Generalised anxiety disorder

This is the most common anxiety disorder, and GAD is often what people mean when they say they have anxiety. People with GAD feel anxious and worried most of the time, not necessarily as a result of being in a stressful situation. They often expect the worst-case scenario and find it hard to control these negative feelings.

This anxiety is enough to have a negative impact on their regular lives, as it causes uncontrollable worry that can make them unable to focus on what they’re meant to be doing. It can also cause problems with relationships, sleeping, eating and work. Worries do not usually relate to just one issue, but instead, relate to many aspects of a person’s life.

Social anxiety

Social anxiety or social phobia is a disorder that causes an intense fear of being in social situations and performing in front of others. Even in normal situations that wouldn’t normally cause worry, someone with social anxiety might fear being laughed at, humiliated, attacked or judged by others. They might feel very uncomfortable being in large groups of people or being stuck with people they don’t know very well.

Some of the most common scenarios where social anxiety might strike include meeting new people, dating, public speaking, starting conversations and eating in front of people. Some of these things might sound nerve-racking, while some might not, but for someone with social anxiety, they can all feel traumatic.

Panic disorder

You’ve probably heard of panic attacks before, but you may not know that panic disorder is a mental health problem where you experience recurring and unexpected panic attacks. This can be extremely disruptive to everyday life, and each panic attack can be a really scary experience.

A panic attack often comes out of the blue and causes symptoms such as shaking, heart palpitations, hyperventilation and dizziness. Sufferers feel an immobilising fear wash over them, and sometimes worry that they’re going to pass out or die. To ease your worries, you cannot die of a panic attack. It’s just that a high level of anxiety can make you feel like you’re in danger.

Some signs you might have panic disorder include worrying for a long period of time after having a panic attack that it might happen again, worrying that a panic attack is actually a sign of a medical problem (such as heart disease), and avoiding certain behaviours or activities that might trigger a panic attack.

Phobias

People might often make jokes about having a phobia of something, but phobias are actually a fairly common type of anxiety disorder that need to be taken seriously. When you have a phobia of something, you’re completely terrified of it and will irrationally exaggerate any danger in your mind.

Some people don’t even need to be near the phobic stimulus, but just the thought or sight of it on a screen might cause an excessive amount of fear or even a panic attack. Often, people with phobias know their fears are irrational, but this doesn’t prevent the feelings of anxiety.

Some of the most common phobias include pteromerhanophobia, which is a fear of flying; claustrophobia, which is a fear of enclosed spaces; and entomophobia, a fear of insects.

Genetics

Evidence has shown that if a close relative has an anxiety disorder, you’re more likely to suffer from one too. This fact could be the result of a mixture of nature and nurture, but there is some evidence that genetics might play a part. A 2015 study about twins found that having the RBFOX1 gene may increase the chances of someone developing GAD. A separate study from 2016 showed that the presence of specific genes could be linked to GAD, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

On the topic of biological causes of anxiety, our brain chemistry also plays a part, and is linked to our genetics. Many scientists believe that anxiety is partly caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA.

Reduced levels of serotonin have been linked to anxiety and depression, as this neurotransmitter heavily affects mood. Low amounts of dopamine can have a similar effect on anxiety, as dopamine influences the amount of energy a person has, though too much dopamine can also create feelings of paranoia.

Norepinephrine imbalances can cause a problem because this chemical is released during the fight or flight response when the body responds to stress. Finally, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) stops the brain from getting overstimulated and calms down the nervous system. Evidence from a 2003 study shows that low amounts of GABA can induce anxiety.

Childhood experiences and trauma

As with most mental health problems, negative childhood experiences or past trauma can cause anxiety disorders. In some instances, this might be a singular incident like the death of a loved one, an assault or witnessing something traumatic. Alternatively, anxiety can be caused by repeated negative experiences such as physical or emotional abuse or bullying.

Anxiety, in these instances, is often a result of your brain and body forming coping strategies to deal with traumatic events in the past. Especially when there has been a pattern of negative experiences, the brain can begin to anticipate something bad happening. This anticipation can result in persistent fear and anxiety.

It is worth noting that you don’t need to have experienced something really bad in order to have anxiety. Many people with anxiety can’t trace it back to past events, so you shouldn’t feel like you’re exaggerating your feelings if you can’t either.

Current life situation

Anxiety can also be caused by the stresses of daily life. These factors may not appear to be stress-inducing, but can easily impact mental health. Things in your current life situation that can cause anxiety include money worries, relationship problems, work stress, caring for a loved one or being made redundant.

Currently, the stress of the global COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive increase in anxiety, particularly among young people.

Another common cause of mental health problems such as anxiety is physical illness or injury. The stress of dealing with a physical illness can really take its toll, especially when you consider the pain, financial toll and increased difficulty of doing everyday things.

Drugs, alcohol & medication

Sometimes, anxiety can be triggered or caused by a certain drug or too much alcohol, and so there is sometimes a link between addiction or alcoholism and anxiety. Additionally, some medications for physical or mental diseases might have side effects including anxiety. Below we’ve listed some of these medications:

• Medicine for Parkinson’s Disease
• Medications With Caffeine
• Corticosteroids
• Seizure drugs
• Thyroid Medicine
• ADHD Drugs
• Asthma Medication

How do I cope with anxiety?

Below we’ve listed some tactics you can use to help cope with symptoms of anxiety. These methods can’t replace professional help, but might offer a sense of calm to you when you need it:

Breathing and mindfulness exercises. There are plenty of techniques you can use to calm yourself down. BioMed Lifestyle Club has a module specifically designed to help with Mindfulness

Distracting yourself with friends, family or hobbies. Sometimes we just need to be around people who love us or spend time on hobbies that distract us from feelings of negativity.

Using self-care strategies. Some of our favourites include running a bath, lighting candles, listening to calming music and meditating.

Exercising. It may be the last thing on your mind, but exercising releases endorphins and reduces tension.

Writing in a diary. Writing has the power to let you release emotions, discuss worries, and check whether your fears are rational or not. Sometimes it can really help to get your thoughts down on paper.

Getting a good night’s sleep Sleep is a hugely important factor in maintaining mental health. Claudia, your BioMed Health Practitioner, has created a comprehensive Fatigue Recovery Formula  which includes a module with practical advice and guidance to help improve your sleep. Book a call now

Eating healthy, balanced meals. The food we eat can have a huge impact on our emotional wellbeing, as it is literally fuel for our bodies.  Read our blog to find out how you can use food to improve your mental health.

Avoiding alcohol, drugs and caffeine. Each of these can have negative effects on your health and wellbeing, so it might be worth giving them up. Caffeine, in particular, may not seem bad, but it can make someone with anxiety feel very jittery.

What are some anxiety treatment options?

There are several great treatment options for anxiety, and many people receive treatment for it every day. The same thing won’t work for everyone, and often, people need a mixture of different treatments to tackle the symptoms effectively. Please follow the link to our Fatigue Recovery Workshop for further support.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, this blog has helped you to understand anxiety disorders a little bit better, and we hope you feel more able to help yourself or someone else who may be having a hard time. Understanding your mental health is so important and a big part of being able to take care of yourself.

and while we know yoga is a powerful tool in stress reduction and finding inner peace

this ancient practice also benefits overall health and helps boost immunity. Yoga is a great way to have some downtime, focus on your breathing and think of nothing else.

Here are five yoga poses that can enhance the functioning of the immune system and help you wake up feeling positive about what the day ahead has to bring. 

1 Tadasana (Mountain Pose)                 

Tadasana is a base pose from which all other asanas emerge. Therefore, it is called the mother of all yoga poses.

This basic level yoga pose is great at correcting your posture and improving your balance. 

Formation of the posture:

Stand straight with your feet together.

Firm up your thigh muscles, lift your knees and then lift your ankles.

Draw the shoulder blades down the back and towards each other, feeling the front of the shoulders and chest opening.

Breathe in and stretch your shoulders, arms and chest upwards.

Feel the stretch in your body right from your feet to your head. Hold for 10-20 seconds and repeat one-two times.

Benefits:

Tadasana is one of the most effective yoga asanas to increase immunity and has been widely known to be helpful for the nervous system,

helping restore balance and regulate the digestive system. It also steadies your breathing, increases awareness, relieves tension and improves blood circulation. 

2 Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

The Bhujangasana pose will leave you feeling revitalised and will provide you with a boost of energy after a long day of sitting in the same position.

Formation of the posture:

Lie flat on your stomach, place your hands on the side and ensure that your toes touch each other.

Rest the palm of your hands by the side of your chest, your arms must be close to your body with elbows pointing outward.

Rest your forehead on the floor and relax your body.

Inhale and raise your forehead, neck and then shoulders. Using your back muscles raise your chest,

now use the strength of your arms to raise your trunk. Look upward breathing normally.

Hold the asana for 20 - 25 seconds

Benefits:

This asana stimulates your digestive system and circulation. It’s believed to stimulate the thymus, an organ located behind

the chest bone that is responsible for the growth of T-cells - your body's first response to the cold or flu.

It also enhances the function of abdominal organs such as the kidney and liver.

3 Matsyasana (Fish Pose)

The Matsyasana pose helps in absorbing body nutrients better and is widely considered to be the destroyer of all diseases.

It opens up the heart and lungs and is thought to break up congestion in the lungs and sinuses, improving breathing and posture. 

Formation of the posture:

Lay down on the mat with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

Slide your hands beneath your thighs, palms downward so that you are sitting on them.

With the help of your forearms, lift your upper body (chest, abdomen, shoulders) off the mat.

Push your head back so that the top of your head touches the floor.

Hold for 30 seconds and return to the initial position.

Benefits: 

This asana offers various benefits for the immune system. It can help to regulate breathing especially for those suffering

from asthma and other respiratory issues.

Matsyasana also eradicates toxins from your digestive system.

4 Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

The Trikonasana is known to strengthen your shoulders, chest, core and legs, leaving you feeling relaxed and calm.

It helps transport blood flow throughout the body, therefore, ensuring the optimal functioning of the organs. 

Formation of the posture:

Stand upright and place your legs about three to four feet apart. 

Turn your right foot out 90 degrees and left foot in by 15 degrees.

Now align the centre of your right heel with the centre of your arch of the left foot.

Inhale and as you exhale bend your body to the right, downward from the hips, keeping the waist straight,

allowing your left hand to come up in the air while your right hand comes down towards the floor.

Keep both arms in a straight line.

Rest your right hand on your shin, ankle, or the floor outside your right foot.

Stretch your left arm towards the ceiling and keep your head in a neutral position.

Stretch as much as you can and keep steady.

Keep taking in long deep breaths and with each exhalation relax the body more.

Hold for at least five breaths. 

As you inhale, come up, bring your arms down to your sides and straighten your feet.

Repeat the same on the other side.

Benefits: 

Trikonasana is one of the best yoga poses for the immune system and also helps to improve circulation in your body.

It may aid digestion, reduce blood pressure and improve concentration and balance. 

5 Utkatasana (Chair Pose)

When it comes to yoga asanas to increase immunity, the Utkatasana proves to be an ideal yoga pose. 

This is an important pose in yoga for energising the entire body and promoting creativity and mental strength.

Formation of the posture:

Begin with the Tadasana (Mountain pose). 

Then bend your knees, move your hips backwards as if you are sitting on a chair.

Now raise your hands upwards, touch your ears and soften the shoulders.

Hold the pose for 30-60 seconds and try stretching upwards if possible.

Release your hands and return to the initial position.

Benefits:

The Utkatasana pose increases strength and stamina and stimulates the heart, diaphragm and abdominal organs.

Alongside strengthening your immunity, this asana also helps relieve joint and back pains.

So, when you’re feeling under the weather, grab your yoga mat, get some essential oils diffusing

and do these five immunity-boosting yoga poses to make a difference to your overall health!

If pathogens pass the non-specific first line of the body’s defence mechanisms, they will cause an infection. However, the body has a second line of defence to stop or minimise this infection - the immune system, which mainly consists of two types of white blood cell called phagocytes and lymphocytes.

Phagocytes are attracted to pathogens in the blood and bind to them. The phagocyte’s membrane surrounds the pathogen and engulfs it. Enzymes found inside the cell then break down the pathogen in order to destroy it. As phagocytes do this to all pathogens that they encounter, they are called non-specific.

Lymphocytes are another type of white blood cell. They recognise proteins on the surface of pathogens called antigens. Lymphocytes detect that these are foreign, ie not naturally occurring within the body, and produce antibodies. This can take a few days, during which time you may feel ill. The antibodies cause pathogens to stick together and make it easier for phagocytes to engulf them.

Some pathogens produce toxins which make you feel ill. Lymphocytes can also produce antitoxins to neutralise these toxins. Both the antibodies and antitoxins are highly specific to the antigen or the pathogen, therefore the lymphocytes that produce them are called specific.

If your body encounters a particular antigen, your lymphocytes might recognise it. If they do, they clone themselves in order to make enough antibodies to destroy the pathogen. Memory cells are also created which remain in your bloodstream and produce a quick response if the antigen is encountered again. You are then said to be immune.

The best immunity comes from having fought off a disease. However, in some cases such as a serious disease that could prove fatal on first infection, this is not an option. Instead vaccination is used.

However, for a wide variety of reasons, the immune system can become weak and fail to protect you against infection.

The effect of alcohol on the immune system

Healthy habits, such as being active, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep, can keep your immune system strong. But unhealthy factors, like stress, smoking, or drinking alcohol, can be taxing for your immune system and make it harder for it to fight off infection.

Drinking gives your body work to do that keeps it from other processes. Once you take a drink, your body makes metabolising it a priority — above processing anything else. Unlike proteins, carbohydrates and fats, your body doesn’t have a way to store alcohol, so it has to move to the front of the metabolising line. This is why it affects your liver, as it’s your liver’s job to detoxify and remove alcohol from your blood.

What you need to know about how alcohol affects your immune system.

One of the least appreciated medical complications of alcohol intake is its effect on the immune system. Excess alcohol consumption may lead to immune deficiency, causing increased susceptibility to certain diseases. Alcohol alters the make up of your gut microbiome— home to trillions of micro organisms performing several crucial roles for your health — and affects those micro organisms' ability to support your immune system. Drinking alcohol may also damage the immune cells that line the intestines and serve as the first line of defence against bacteria and viruses. By damaging those cells in your intestines, it can make it easier for pathogens to cross into your bloodstream.

Not just about chronic alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption does not have to be chronic to have negative health consequences. In fact, research shows that acute binge drinking also significantly impacts the effectiveness of the immune system.

Drinking alcohol in large quantities even just for a short period of time — binge drinking — can reduce infection-fighting white blood cells known as monocytes in the hours after peak intoxication, essentially weakening your immune system by up to 50%.

Clinicians have long observed an association between excessive alcohol consumption and adverse immune-related health effects such as susceptibility to pneumonia. In recent decades, this association has been expanded to a greater likelihood of acute respiratory stress syndromes (ARDS).

Alcohol disrupts ciliary function in the upper airways, impairs the function of immune cells (i.e., alveolar macrophages and neutrophils), and weakens the barrier function of the epithelia in the lower airways. Often, the alcohol-provoked lung damage goes undetected until a second insult, such as a respiratory infection, leads to more severe lung diseases than those seen in nondrinkers.

How much alcohol is OK?

The widely accepted guidelines state that a moderate amount of drinking — one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men is generally safe for people in good health and unlikely to have a negative effect on their immune systems.

Overall, avoid drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol

if you want your immune system in good shape.

Particularly important during the current pandemic.

In this blog, we take a closer look at what quercetin actually is, how you can get more in your diet and how it can help to support immune health.

 Quercetin – What is it?

Quercetin is a naturally-occurring flavonoid found in plant foods. Flavonoids belong to a family of plant compounds known as polyphenols. They are remarkable tiny compounds that can help to protect plants from stressors (e.g. insects / fungi / wind / heat), act as UV filters and signalling molecules, detoxify harmful substances and work as antimicrobial defence compounds too. The great news is that when we consume flavonoids from plant foods, we get to benefit from these incredible properties too. There are over 5,000 known varieties of flavonoids that we know of (and likely many more that we don’t), all with slightly different health benefits to impart; hence why getting a diverse variety of plants in your diet each day is so very important.

Quercetin – Best sources

Quercetin is considered to be one of the most abundant flavonoids in the human diet. Some of the best sources of quercetin are apples, onions, berries, capers, red grapes, cherries, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, red wine, black tea and green tea.

Onions are generally considered to rank highest in terms of quercetin content. Interestingly, one study found the levels of quercetin in red onions to be 14-fold higher than in garlic, and 2-fold higher than white onions. Another study found the amount of quercetin in onion peel to be 48-fold more than the flesh.

Levels of quercetin in foods are affected by storage, preparation and even the original growing conditions. Light stimulates the production of quercetin and studies have shown higher levels of quercetin in plants exposed to a greater amount of UV-radiation, adding weight to the theory that quercetin is produced by plants as a defence mechanism against UV exposure. Interesting then to consider that an apple picked from the top of a fruit tree might contain more quercetin than one picked from the lower branches covered in shade!

Quercetin – How does it support immune health?

Along with other flavonoids, quercetin has been shown to have antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-allergic effects. One of the most common reasons people turn to quercetin is to help with symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever). Several studies have found quercetin to be a useful anti-inflammatory support and to improve survival and decrease cell damage in a mouse model of sepsis.

Quercetin’s role in immune health has made it a topic of heightened interest over the past year, as much attention has been paid to natural substances that have the potential to modulate the immune response. More specifically, the Sars-CoV-2 virus has been shown to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome – a part of the innate immune system which may lead to uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ‘cytokine storm’, and potentially to severe damage of the respiratory epithelium.Therefore, natural compounds that have the potential to regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome are of significant scientific interest.

In a 2016 review article entitled Natural compounds as regulators of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-beta production, the authors noted that “EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and quercetin are potent inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-beta production, typically acting at more than one element of the involved pathways.”Numerous studies have demonstrated regulatory effects of specific dietary flavonoids including dihydroquercetin, quercetin, myricetin and apigenin on NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

It is these demonstrated immune regulatory roles that make quercetin such a powerful plant compound to consider for immune support.

Harnessing the power of natural plant compounds

Supporting optimal immune health involves bringing together many different diet and lifestyle factors. With each new day, we learn even more about the powerful compounds that are present in our food and the fascinating ways in which they may enhance our immune resilience. Quercetin is one such compound that has the potential to deliver comprehensive health benefits, especially for immune function and regulation, and it certainly makes sense to consider optimising your daily intake.*

BioMed highly recommends Nutri Advanced as a reliable and trustworthy supplier of a wide variety of vitamins, health and nutritional supplements, including Quercetin. If you wish to place an order - register an account (link above) and choose the type of account as – patient(seeing a health care practitioner) and name Claudia Carrillo  as your practitioner to receive 10% discount.

* Reference Rachel Bartholomew BA (Hons), Dip ION, mBANT, CNHC, GHW on 2nd February 2021

Burnout is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism and ineffectiveness in the workplace...

and by chronic negative responses to stressful workplace conditions. If the stresses of your job get to be too much

or if you turn irritable with your co-workers (or, worse, customers or clients), burnout might be the culprit.

Burnout can affect anyone, at any time in their lives but is most common in people between the ages of 25 and 44.

Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout

• Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

• Sense of failure and self-doubt.

• Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated.

• Detachment, feeling alone in the world.

• Loss of motivation.

• Increasingly cynical and negative outlook.

• Lower productivity.

• Depleted energy levels.

• Lack of libido.

• Change in appetite/sleep habits.

• Irritability.

With burnout, the best option is to take regular steps to prevent it.

Stress and overload in the workplace are increasing worldwide and are often considered a cause of burnout. Indeed, a new study

shows that work stress and burnout are mutually reinforcing. However, contrary to popular belief, burnout has a much greater impact

on work stress than vice versa.

"This means that the more severe a person's burnout becomes, the more stressed they will feel at work, such as being under time pressure,

for example. The most important burnout symptom is the feeling of total exhaustion - to the extent that it cannot be remedied by normal recovery

phases of an evening, a weekend, or even a vacation.

Employees suffering from burnout should be timely provided with adequate support in order to break the vicious circle between work stress and burnout.”

states Christian Dormann, Professor, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

"To protect themselves from further exhaustion, some try to build a psychological distance to their work, that is, they alienate themselves from their work

as well as the people associated with it and become more cynical," added Dr. Christina Guthier.

She conducted the study as part of her doctoral thesis in Dormann's research group and was awarded with the dissertation prize of the Alfred Teves

Foundation in 2020. The study has recently been published in Psychological Bulletin.

For the joint publication with Professor Christian Dormann and Professor Manuel Völkle of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Christina Guthier evaluated

48 longitudinal studies of burnout and work stress comprising 26,319 participants.

The average age in the initial survey was about 42 years, 44 percent of the respondents were men. The longitudinal studies from 1986 to 2019 came from

various countries, including predominantly European countries as well as Israel, the USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, China, and Taiwan.

Stopping the downward spiral and reducing the effect of burnout on work stress

The results challenge the common perception that work stress is the driving force behind burnout.

"Burnout can be triggered by a work situation, but that is not always the case," Dormann pointed out.

Once burnout begins, it develops only very gradually, building up slowly over time. Ultimately it leads to work being increasingly perceived as stressful:

The amount of work is too much, time is too short, and work stress is too great.

"When exhausted, the ability to cope with stress usually decreases. As a result, even smaller tasks can be perceived as significantly more strenuous,"

explained Guthier, the first author of the article. "We expected an effect of burnout on work stress; the strength of the effect was very surprising," she noted.

The effect of burnout on perceived work stress can be somewhat mitigated if employees have more control over their own work and receive  support from colleagues or superiors.

Key questions that need to be addressed are: how can the effects of burnout on perceived work stress be reduced and how can the development

of this vicious circle be prevented? Dormann and Guthier suggest that the place to start is with management behaviour.

Employees should have the opportunity to give feedback on their work stress at any time and be appreciated.

Last but not least, proper recovery could also help to stop the downward spiral.

Journal reference: Guthier, C., et al. (2020) Reciprocal effects between job stressors and burnout: A continuous time meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin. doi.org/10.1037/bul0000304.

It affects how our cells respond to infections and can help keep inflammation under control. It also helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth. Zinc also helps stimulate the activity of at least 100 different enzymes and is involved in processing carbohydrate, fat and protein in food. A lack of zinc can make a person more susceptible to disease and illness.

Zinc & immune function

Severe deficiency of zinc is known to suppress immune function, and even mild to moderate deficiency can have a negative impact on the immune system’s ability to deal with infection. Zinc supports the function and proliferation of various immune cells, and without it, the capacity of the body to defend against harmful invaders is diminished.

There are a number of ways zinc boosts the immune system but primarily it activates enzymes that break down proteins in viruses and bacteria, so they are less able to spread. Zinc also increases the activation of cells responsible for fighting infection.

Zinc supports both innate (non-specific, short term, first line of defence) and adaptive (specific, longer term, second line of defence) immune responses. Interestingly, harmful pathogenic organisms also need zinc to invade and thrive, so the body has an important antimicrobial defence mechanism in place whereby it hides zinc away from potential pathogens so they cannot use it! Another important defence mechanism the body uses is to intoxicate intracellular microbes within macrophages (immune cells which engulf harmful organisms) with excess zinc.

Everyone needs optimal dietary zinc for their immune system to function properly, and particular consideration should be given to elderly adults who may be most at risk of having low zinc status. In fact, low levels of zinc are relatively common among the elderly and this is a likely factor contributing to age-related decline in immune function.

Ensuring optimal dietary zinc intake

Ensuring optimal levels of zinc, particularly in children and the elderly is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. The body doesn’t have much ability to store zinc so it’s crucial that your diet supplies plenty. Whilst it’s vital to ensure you are regularly consuming plenty of zinc-rich foods, it’s also important to note that some compounds, for example phytates, (the major storage form of phosphorous in plant foods) can bind with zinc and inhibit its absorption. Phytates are found in whole-grain bread, cereals, and legumes. Zinc contained in grains and plants is not as well absorbed as zinc found in seafood and meat.

About phytates

Phytates are antioxidant compounds found in whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The chief concern about them is that they can bind to certain dietary minerals including iron, zinc, manganese and, to a lesser extent calcium, and slow their absorption in the intestines making them unavailable for the body to use. Phytates in your everyday meals should not be an issue as long as you’re eating a balanced diet. Most of us consume enough minerals in common foods to more than make up for the small amounts of these micronutrients that might be tied up by phytates.

Phytates themselves do have some health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects. In laboratory research, phytates have helped normalize cell growth and stopped the proliferation of cancer cells. They also may help prevent cardiovascular disease and lower a food’s glycaemic load.(The glycemic load of food is a number that estimates how much the food will raise a person's blood glucose level after eating it.)

The best way to ensure optimal dietary zinc intake is to eat a balanced diet, and to include both animal and plant sources of the mineral. If you are completely reliant on plant sources of zinc, bear in mind that cooking reduces a food’s phytic acid content to some degree, as does soaking whole grains prior for use in baking. To help this breakdown, you can soak them in yoghurt, buttermilk, or water combined with lemon juice or vinegar. Foods such as garlic and onions may increase the absorption of zinc from plant foods.

Foods highest in zinc include:

• Shellfish
• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Whole grains
• Some vegetables

How much zinc do I need?

The amount of zinc you need is about:

9.5mg a day for men (aged 19 to 64 years)

7mg a day for women

You should normally be able to get all the zinc you need from your daily diet.

Supplements

You can take extra zinc in supplement form to keep your levels topped up and gently support your immune function. If you regularly take zinc in supplement form however (such as in a daily multi) it is important to balance this with copper, as excess zinc can cause copper deficiency and vice versa.

Zinc deficiency

Zinc deficiency, cell-mediated immune dysfunction, susceptibility to infections, and increased oxidative stress have all been observed in elderly subjects. A 2007 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc supplementation was carried out on 50 elderly subjects and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Following zinc supplementation, the researchers found that incidence of infections was significantly lower, plasma zinc was significantly higher, and generation of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were significantly lower in the zinc-supplemented than in the placebo group.

Can I take too much zinc?

Zinc is a trace mineral which means we need a certain amount of it each day but taking high doses of zinc supplements can cause toxicity. Taking high doses of zinc reduces the amount of copper the body can absorb. This can lead to anaemia and weakening of the bones. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, a loss of appetite, a bad taste, and a loss of smell. Zinc supplements may also interact with medicines such as antibiotics, diuretics, and penicillin. Do not take more than 25mg of zinc supplements a day unless advised to by a doctor. You cannot over-consume zinc from zinc-containing foods.

The psoas has become the ‘trendy’ hip flexor muscle to talk about and work on. But all too often another hip flexor muscle, the TFL, is the main culprit of our back, hip, knee, ankle and iliotibial band (IT band) pain. The IT band is a thick bunch of fibres that runs from the outside of your hips to the outside of your thigh and knee down to the top of your shin bone. It helps to extend, abduct, and rotate your hips. If your IT band gets too tight, it can lead to swelling and pain around your knee.

Research suggests that, when working out, far more attention should be given to the TFL because it compensates for a weak glute medius, perpetuating IT Band tightness and impacting everything down to our feet and ankles. It contributes to internal hip rotation and external tibial rotation. Because of its far reaching impact it is a muscle we should not ignore.

However, the hard part about addressing TFL tightness and over activity is that many of the moves we need to do to correct the issue, can often perpetuate it!

For instance, to help prevent the TFL from continuing to compensate, we need to include glute medius strengthening.

But ever notice how you’ll do Monster Walks and feel the front side of your hip working?

Ever push through thinking “Oh yea! Feel that burn!?” Or maybe you don’t even think about what is working. You’re doing the “right moves” so you just believe you should get results, right?

Wrong!

If you’re doing the right moves but still allowing muscles to compensate, not only are you not correcting the problem, but you may be making it worse.

So when you feel that front outside of your hip working during those mini band walks? Guess what is not working as it should and what is also compensating for that under active muscle!?

Your glute medius is not getting the benefit of the exercise it should be getting and instead you’re perpetuating the overuse of your TFL! So all of that rehab isn’t going to pay off. While you need to strengthen your glute medius, you need to realize that all too often your TFL can compensate for a weak glute medius.

Because this muscle then becomes even further overworked and even shortened, it can lead to lower back hip and knee pain, and IT Band issues, foot and ankle problems!

Through our IT Band the TFL can create movement compensations down our entire leg!

And when we then see changes to our ankle mobility those changes only further perpetuate those compensations back up our kinetic chain. It’s why you can’t just ignore aches and pains. The longer you ignore them and keep pushing through, the more you then just allow compensations and imbalances to build up so there is more to have to sort through later.

If you don’t address TFL issues, you’ll end up having to address issues from your feet up!

So how can we prevent our TFL from leading to all of these aches and pains when it wants to work during the exercises we need to be doing to correct it?

 3 TIPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR GLUTES AND PREVENT YOUR TFL FROM COMPENSATING!

1 Treat the TFL like a toddler. Keep it distracted so you can get work done.

Basically, you want to adjust movements to help make it easier to establish that mind-body connection. One way to do that is to “keep the TFL busy” by internally rotating your foot during lateral raise, or abduction, movements.

Because the TFL performs hip internal rotation, you can almost “distract” it with that movement as you use the glute medius to perform the lateral raise.

So if during lateral raises you notice you often feel the front of your hip, turn your toe down toward the ground.

You may even notice often that your toe is turned out toward the ceiling.

The TFL contributes to tibial external rotation.

So internally rotating your foot is the opposite action, which can help “shut off” the TFL. When you internally rotate your tibia, you often then internally rotate the hip by extension.

Maintaining this internal rotation, you can then perform your lateral raise movement.

If you still are struggling to feel your glute medius, you can even kick slightly back as you raise up or put your hip into extension, driving back into a slider or wall as you perform that lateral raise movement. This hip extension and slight kick back will engage your glute max, which will also hinder the TFL from taking over and allow you to potentially better activate your glute medius. This works because the TFL is a hip flexor so by putting your hip into extension, you can inhibit it from working!

2 Change the hip flexion during those abduction moves

When you’re first starting to “rehab” an issue, you need to use the moves you feel the most and build off of those.

Basically you want to take the path of least resistance to establish that mind-body connection.

If you feel a move working those glutes, use that first then dive into other moves because you’ve already established that mind-body connection.

To find that move that helps you establish that mind-body connection, you may need to adjust the exact posture you use during basic abduction moves.

By adjusting the amount of hip flexion or extension you perform the move in, you can find a way to maximize your glute medius engagement and minimize your TFL compensation.

It isn’t a clear cut and dry rule of what posture is best so you may want to play around to see what matches your personal recruitment patterns.

For some, more flexion may “distract” the TFL because it is a hip flexor.

However, for some, more hip flexion may perpetuate it being overactive during those abduction moves.

In this case, putting the hip into more extension may be key to inhibit the muscle.

While you want the glute medius to be strong in both a slightly more hip-flexed or hip-extended state, you do want to start with the move you feel working correctly to make sure you establish that mind-body connection.

The fact that hip flexion can play a role in how much you’re able to engage the TFL is why that oh so “basic” clam exercise can so often backfire too! The clam is a traditional glute activation movement. But this seemingly simple move is so often butchered.

First off, you may find you need to use that internal rotation of the tibia mentioned in the first tip to help.

Secondly, you may adjust how much you pull your knees forward or straighten your legs out. 

The key is being conscious of what you feel working to then adjust your exact amount of hip flexion. A great way to play around with different amount of hip flexion during even a bilateral abduction move is seated. You can lean back, sit up tall or lean forward to different degrees to not only strengthen your glute medius in a variety of postures but also find the exact position that works for you. Remember to focus on what you feel working so you can work around your own biomechanics.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

3  Foam roll and stretch before you activate                                                                            

If you struggle to activate a muscle, you may find that foam rolling and stretching the muscle prior to doing activation moves helps.

While people debate the benefit of both techniques, with one of the main arguments against them being that the benefits are short-lived, that doesn’t mean you can’t use these “short-lived” benefits to your advantage.

By rolling your TFL and then stretching to improve your hip mobility, you can inhibit this overactive muscle, even if just temporarily.
If you interrupt that mind-body connection between your TFL and brain, and restore muscles to their proper length-tension relationships, you can then help yourself better establish the mind-body connection to the muscle you do want to work – your glute medius!

 So if you find your TFL is compensating for your glute medius no matter what posture or tweaks you do, try relaxing and inhibiting it immediately prior to doing the glute activation moves.

Interrupt that communication so you can establish a new connection to those glutes! A lacrosse ball is a great way to relax that TFL and even a simple half kneeling hip stretch with reach can improve your hip extension.

Link to Youtube video demonstrating the exercises

- so is vitally important to good health. The body does not naturally produce the magnesium it needs, so it must come from food sources or supplements.

Foods rich in magnesium include

• Dark leafy green
• Seeds and nuts, including sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, peanuts, cashews and almonds
• Squash, broccoli, and other vegetables
• Legumes
• Some dairy products
• Meat
• Unprocessed whole grains
• Avocados
• Dark chocolate
• Tofu
• Bananas

The recommended daily intake is 400–420 mg per day for men and 310–320 mg per day for women. However, the average daily magnesium intake for men and women in the UK is below the daily amount recommended by the government. This lower intake level may in part be caused by food farming techniques, manufacturing and processing.

Modern lifestyles that include stress, poor sleep and high intensity exercise alongside increased caffeine and sugar intake contribute to the body’s depleting magnesium stores.

What’s more, the magnesium content of plant foods is known to have decreased by 20-30% over the last 60 years. This means we can’t rely on magnesium-rich foods to provide high enough levels of this crucial mineral in the same way that we used to.

How does Magnesium work in the body?

An adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. Less than 1% of total magnesium is in blood serum, and these levels are kept under tight control. Normal serum magnesium concentrations range between 0.75 and 0.95 millimoles (mmol)/L. Hypomagnesemia is defined as a serum magnesium level less than 0.75 mmol/L . Magnesium homeostasis is largely controlled by the kidney, which typically excretes about 120 mg magnesium into the urine each day. Urinary excretion is reduced when magnesium status is low. Assessing magnesium status is difficult because most magnesium is inside cells or in bone. To comprehensively evaluate magnesium status, both laboratory tests and a clinical assessment might be required.

Why we need Magnesium

Maintaining a healthy heart

One of magnesium’s most important jobs is to regulate muscle function throughout the body—and that includes the heart muscle. When your magnesium levels are low, calcium may overstimulate your heart muscle cells. One common symptom of this is a rapid and/or irregular heartbeat. Magnesium naturally competes with calcium, which is essential for generating heart contractions. When calcium enters your heart muscle cells, it stimulates the muscle fibres to contract. Magnesium counters this effect, helping these cells relax. This movement of calcium and magnesium across your heart cells maintains a healthy heartbeat. Because it has strong anti-inflammatory properties magnesium may also prevent blood clotting and can help your blood vessels relax and help regulate blood pressure and the production of cholesterol.

Helps Regulate Muscle Contractions

Magnesium also plays a role in regulating muscle contractions. Just like in the heart, magnesium acts as a natural calcium blocker to help muscles relax. In your muscles, calcium binds to proteins such as troponin C and myosin. This process changes the shape of these proteins, which generates a contraction. Magnesium competes with calcium for these same binding spots to help relax your muscles. If your body doesn’t have enough magnesium to compete with calcium, your muscles may contract too much, causing cramps or spasms. For this reason, magnesium is commonly recommended to treat muscle cramps.

May Improve Blood Sugar Control

Your cells have receptors for insulin, which need magnesium to function properly. If magnesium levels are low, your cells can’t use insulin effectively, leaving blood sugar levels high. People with type 2 diabetes often have low magnesium levels, which may worsen the condition, as magnesium helps regulate insulin and moves sugar out of the blood and into the cells for storage.

Can Improve Sleep Quality

Taking magnesium may improve sleep quality by helping your mind and body relax. This relaxation helps you fall asleep faster and may improve your sleep quality. Studies have found that magnesium can regulate melatonin production, which is a hormone that guides your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Magnesium has also been shown to bind to gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) receptors. The hormone GABA helps calm down nerve activity, which may otherwise affect sleep.

May Help Reduce Symptoms of Depression

Low levels of magnesium have been linked to symptoms of depression. One reason for this is that magnesium helps regulate your brain function and mood. Several studies have shown that supplementing with magnesium may reduce symptoms of depression

Bone health

Magnesium plays a critical role in bone formation, and in maintaining bone density. It helps the body effectively use the building blocks of strong bones, including the nutrients calcium and Vitamin D. The role of magnesium to bone health becomes increasingly clear with age. Higher magnesium intake is linked to greater bone density in older men and women.

Excercise

Sport & muscle function – Anyone exercising regularly is at increased risk of low magnesium. During exercise, you may need 10–20% more magnesium than when you’re resting, depending on the activity Magnesium helps move blood sugar into your muscles and dispose of lactate, which can build up during exercise and cause fatigue, cramps and spasms.

Energy production - Plays a key role in energy production, activating ATP, the energy molecule that fuels your body’s cells.

Healthy enzyme function – Magnesium is involved in more than 300 different enzyme-related reactions in the body’s cells.

Female hormones – Magnesium is important for all aspects of female health, especially to support monthly cycle and perimenopause. For many women of reproductive age, the strains of cyclical anxiety, stress, mood swings and bloating as well as menstrual migraine have a significant impact on quality of life. Studies suggest magnesium alone and in combination with vitamin B6 may help alleviate some of these symptoms.

May alleviate headaches/migraines - Magnesium deficiency appears to play a part in the development of migraines and headache.

Overview

Healthy magnesium levels protect metabolic health, stabilize mood, keep stress in check, promote better sleep, and contribute to heart and bone health.

Certain groups are more likely to be at risk of low levels of this important mineral – these include older adults, type 2 diabetics and those with gut issues, such as Crohn’s disease.

What about magnesium supplements?

If you need to take a supplement, it’s important to select a high-quality product that supplies the form of magnesium that is most likely to benefit the condition you want to address.

BioMed recommends supplements supplied by Nutri-Advanced

Here is what they say:

Magnesium as glycinate is a superior, highly absorbable form of magnesium, that is well tolerated especially by those with sensitive digestive systems.

Why Choose Magnesium Glycinate Supplements?

Optimal absorption – Magnesium glycinate is a superior form of magnesium that has been scientifically formulated for optimum absorption.

No side effects – It can be taken in higher doses without any unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea or stomach discomfort.

Tablet or powder form – Magnesium glycinate can be supplemented in a convenient tablet or powdered form for flexible dosage.

It is the simplest of the carbohydrates, making it a monosaccharide. This means it has one sugar. Other monosaccharides include fructose, galactose, and ribose.

Sugar occurs naturally in all foods that contain carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy. These sugars are the first energy source the body goes to: they break down into energy much faster than their protein and fat counterparts. Consuming whole foods that contain natural sugar is good as the sugars in them provide a steady supply of energy to your cells. They also supply the body with fibre, essential minerals, and antioxidants. Dairy foods also contain essential proteins and calcium. A high intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

However, problems occur when you consume too much added sugar - that is, refined sugar that food manufacturers add to countless food products, not just to impart sweetness, but to increase flavour, extend shelf life and adjust attributes like the texture, body, colour, and browning capability of food.

Which foods have added sugars?

Ultra-processed foods—foods with added flavours, colours, sweeteners, emulsifiers, and other additives—contribute to nearly 90 percent of our sugar intake, according to a BMJ Journal study. The main sources of added sugars in ultra-processed foods are:

• Soft drinks
• Fruit drinks
• Milk-based drinks (chocolate milk)
• Cakes, biscuits and pies
• Bread
• Desserts
• Sweet snacks
• Breakfast cereals
• Ice cream and ice lollies
• Sugar we put in our tea and coffee

The calories refined sugar contains are empty – they have little or no nutritional value. Not only that, refined sugar drains and leeches the body of precious vitamins and minerals through the demand its digestion, detoxification and elimination make on all the systems of the body. Minerals such as sodium (from salt) potassium and magnesium (from vegetables), and calcium (from bones) are mobilised and used in chemical transmutation; neutral acids are produced which attempt to return the acid-alkaline balance factor of the blood to a more normal state.

Unless you consume only whole, unprocessed foods, you are bound to have added sugars in your daily diet. Added sugar should not make up more than 5% of the total energy we get from food and drink each day. This is around 30g a day of added sugar for anyone aged 11 and older. But a National Diet and Nutrition Survey reveals Britons are having far too much, especially children aged 11 to 18 years – 14% of their daily calories are from added sugar.

Sugar causes glucose levels to spike and plummet

When we eat, the process of digestion converts food into glucose, a simple sugar. However, in order to use the glucose, your body needs insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas. Glucose is carried in the blood to the pancreas where the increased blood glucose level stimulates the production of insulin. The insulin is carried in the blood to the liver, where excess glucose is converted to glycogen, a complex sugar, which is then stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen provides the body with a readily available source of energy. However, the liver’s capacity is limited, so when it reaches its capacity the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas; the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs.

A decrease in blood glucose, on the other hand, stimulates secretion of the cortical hormones in the adrenal gland and the hormones of the pituitary gland, which raise the blood glucose level by converting some of the stored glycogen in the liver to glucose. If the insulin supplied by the pancreas is excessive too much glucose will be converted to glycogen: the blood glucose level will fall and remain low. This condition is called hypoglycaemia – low blood sugar. This over stimulation of the pancreas is caused by excessive intake of simple sugars.

Symptoms of a low blood sugar level include:

• Sweating
• Feeling tired
• Dizziness
• Feeling hungry
• Tingling lips
• Feeling shaky or trembling
• Fast or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• Becoming easily irritated, tearful, anxious or moody
• Turning pale

The extra insulin in your bloodstream can affect the arteries all over your body. It causes their walls to become inflamed, grow thicker than normal and more stiff, this stresses your heart and damages it over time. This can lead to heart disease, like heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes.

On the other hand, if the insulin supply is inadequate, the liver cannot effectively convert excess glucose to glycogen. When the pancreas becomes exhausted by producing insulin to neutralise the simple sugars, excess sugar begins building up in the blood causing the blood glucose levels to rise and remain high. This is Hyperglycaemia - a defining characteristic of diabetes.

 Symptoms of Hyperglycaemia may include:

• Increased thirst and/or hunger
• Frequent urination
• Sugar in your urine
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder infections and skin infections
• Breath that smells fruity

In a healthy body, the blood glucose level is maintained by the interplay of insulin and cortical hormones. In a poorly functioning body the swings in the blood glucose level are much greater.

Unstable blood sugar can leave you experiencing mood swings, fatigue, and headaches. It also contributes to cravings, which begins the cycle of false hunger. By contrast, those who avoid sugar report having fewer cravings while feeling more emotionally balanced and energized.

Consuming too much added sugar can have many negative health effects including:

Brain fog –The most important and demanding organ that needs glucose is the brain. The human brain is full of neurons that constantly consume glucose as they perform jobs such as thinking, learning and remembering. When your brain doesn’t get enough glucose, its neurons don’t have the fuel they need to communicate with the rest of your body and perform their jobs well. Though not a medical term, this is commonly known as ‘brain fog’ - when you feel confused or disorganized or find it hard to focus or put your thoughts into words.

Inflammation - A diet high in sugar might be a key factor contributing to chronic inflammation. Sugar stimulates the production of free fatty acids in the liver. When the body digests these free fatty acids, chemicals called cytokines are produced which can trigger inflammatory processes.

Immune Function - Studies have shown that sugar can interfere with the way your body fights disease . Bacteria and yeast feed on sugar so excess glucose in the body causes these organisms to build up, leading to various health conditions.

Nerve damage - Researchers think that over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interferes with their ability to send signals, leading to diabetic neuropathy (painful, cold or insensitive fingers, toes, hands, and feet). High blood sugar also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients.

Skin - After sugar hits your bloodstream, it attaches to proteins. The mix of these proteins with sugar causes the skin to lose elasticity, contributing to wrinkles and sagging. Excess sugar also causes inflammation in the skin which can aggravate skin conditions such as rosacea, acne and eczema.

Tooth decay - When it sits on your teeth, sugar causes decay more efficiently than any other food, fuelling plaque and bacteria.

Gum disease - Increasing evidence shows that chronic infections, like those that result from dental problems, play a role in the development of heart disease. Most researchers believe that the connection stems from the body's inflammatory response to infection.

Stress - When we are under stress, our bodies kick into fight-or-flight mode, releasing large amounts of hormones. The body has the same chemical response when blood sugar is low. After you eat a sweet snack, stress hormones begin to compensate for the crash by raising your blood sugar, leading to anxiety, irritability, and shakiness.

Chromium deficiency - Chromium, a trace mineral, helps regulate blood sugar in the body. If you don't get enough chromium in your diet, you may be more likely to develop high blood sugar and high cholesterol. Whilst it can be found in meats, seafood, and plant foods, we don’t get enough chromium from refined starches.

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels

Maintaining consistent blood sugar levels is a critical part of overall health and wellness. People with bodies that don’t produce insulin, such as those with Type 1 diabetes, have to do more to maintain consistent glucose levels. Their daily routines might include insulin injections so that their bodies have the resources they need to carry glucose to their cells and brains.

In a body that can produce insulin, a balanced diet is the key to maintaining blood sugar levels. Skipping meals or denying yourself the sugars and carbohydrates you need to keep your body functioning could lead to an inability to focus or mood swings. On the other hand, consistently consuming meals and snacks that are high in sugars or processed carbohydrates could lead to chronic health conditions.

Understanding the foods your body needs to produce the right levels of glucose can go a long way toward maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

When exposed to the sun, your skin can make its own vitamin D. (In fact, it is not strictly a vitamin at all but belongs to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids - a type of steroid hormone).

The two main forms of Vitamin D are:

• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) - we have vitamin D receptor cells that, through a chain of reactions starting with conversion of cholesterol in the skin, produce vitamin D3 when they’re exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) from the sun. Vitamin D food sources include oily fish, egg yolks and some fortified foods. Vitamin D3 can also be obtained from supplements.
• Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) – is synthesized from ergosterol - found in some plants, mushrooms, and yeasts.

Of the two, D3 has been shown to be almost twice as effective at increasing blood levels of vitamin D as D2.

How our bodies process vitamin D

After vitamin D is absorbed through the skin or acquired from food or supplements, it gets stored in the body’s fat cells. Here it remains inactive until it’s needed.

Vitamin D needs to undergo two conversion steps to become active. First, it is converted to calcidiol, or 25(OH)D, in your liver. This is the storage form of the vitamin.

Second, it is converted to calcitriol, or 1,25(OH)2D, mostly in your kidneys. This is the active, steroid-hormone form of vitamin D.

Calcitriol interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is found in almost every single cell in your body.

When the active form of vitamin D binds to this receptor, it turns genes on or off, leading to chemical changes in your cells.

Why our bodies need vitamin D

Vitamin D has many roles in the body but is particularly important in enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc and maintaining a healthy mineralized skeleton. It is also known as an immunomodulatory hormone. Both the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and metabolizing enzymes are expressed by various types of immune cells including lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Studies have shown that vitamin D has significant biologic activities on the innate and adaptive immune systems. It has been demonstrated that administration of vitamin D or its metabolites leads to changes in the occurrence and progression of various immune-related diseases. This supports the clinical and epidemiological data that link vitamin D with the incidence and severity of many disorders such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and infectious diseases particularly respiratory tract infections like viruses, colds, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency means that there is not enough vitamin D in your body. This may be because:

• Your body has an increased need for vitamin D.
• Your body is unable to make enough vitamin D.
• You don't have enough vitamin D in your diet.

How common is vitamin D deficiency?

A lack of vitamin D is very common. One survey in the UK showed that about 1 in 5 adults and about 1 in 5 children in the UK have low vitamin D levels. More people have low vitamin D levels in the winter and spring because of less exposure to sunlight so your body is unable to make enough vitamin D.

People who get very little sunlight on their skin are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. This is more of a problem in the more northerly parts of the world (including the UK) where there is less sun.

Those more likely to be deficient are:

• People who stay inside a lot. For example, those in hospital for a long time, or housebound people.
• People who cover up a lot of their body when outside.
• The use of sunscreen may increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly if high sun protection factor (SPF) creams (factor 15 or above) are used.
• Elderly people are unable to produce as much vitamin D. This leaves older people more at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
• People who have darker skin are not able to make as much vitamin D.
• Some medical conditions can affect the way the body handles vitamin D. People with Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, and some types of liver and kidney disease, are all at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
• People who follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, or a non-fish-eating diet.
• People taking certain medicines. Examples include: carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, barbiturates and some anti-HIV medicines.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency

Fatigue and Tiredness - Excessive fatigue and tiredness may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Research has shown that many people suffering with CFS/ME have low levels of vitamin D.

For more than 20 years PRP injections have been widely used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including sports injuries and arthritis.

Now Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma gel is also proving to be highly effective as an advanced wound therapy for chronic and acute wounds. It has been demonstrated that PRP increases wound healing in acute trauma wounds, chronic hard-to-heal sores such as ulcers and burns, incisional wounds, and is effective in soft and hard tissue reconstructions.

How does it work?

PRP gel consists of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, and a fibrin scaffold derived from platelets in plasma. To make the gel, around 20ml of blood — around one-and-a-half tablespoons — is taken from the patient and spun for a minute in a centrifuge. The spinning separates plasma — a clear serum — from other elements in the blood. Plasma is rich in platelets which are key to initiating wound healing; once activated at the wound site, platelets release chemical signals to activate fibrin-platelet clots and draw white blood cells to the wound site to clear out damaged, dead, or pathogenic cells.

The spun plasma is mixed with other compounds to turn it into a gel, a process that takes around 30 seconds. The gel is then immediately spread over the wound and a dressing put on top.

PRP Gel therapy is beneficial to the treatment and healing process of many skin conditions and wounds – one example is:

Treatment of ulcers

A recent study has shown that problem foot ulcers treated with PRP gel heal far more quickly and completely than those treated traditionally.

Many of the 2.2 million wounds treated by the NHS each year are open wounds or sores that develop on the skin of the foot in patients with diabetes. These ulcers are caused by a combination of factors, including peripheral neuropathy — where chronic exposure to high blood sugar damages nerves, leading to reduced sensation in the feet. This means patients feel little pain and so any injuries go unnoticed and may worsen and become infected before being detected. Diabetes also damages blood vessels, so oxygen-rich blood and immune cells that are required for the skin to mend itself aren’t delivered. Previous research has shown that up to 40 per cent of diabetic ulcers take at least three months to heal, and in 14 per cent of cases, wounds are still present after a year. Every year in the UK, around 5,000 people have a leg or foot amputation as a result.

In a new trial, reported in the journal ‘Advances in Skin and Wound Care’, patients were treated twice a week with PRP gel for the first fortnight and then once weekly afterwards, resulting in faster healing times and regained limb function thereby significantly decreasing the risk of amputation and improving the quality of life for diabetic patients suffering from diabetic ulceration.

PRP Gel therapy is now available at BioMed Natural Health Clinic so, if you are struggling with sores or wounds that are taking too long to heal, don’t hesitate - book an appointment with Claudia, your BioMed Health Practitioner – at either the Lancaster or Arnside Clinic – where you will receive expert attention and treatment.

They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells that regulate genetic function.

What are the key Omega-3s and what are the differences?

• Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) is a short chain Omega-3 fatty acid. It is found in a variety of plants and seed oils including rapeseed and linseed, some nuts and green leafy vegetables. The human body cannot make ALA, it is obtained through our diet.
• Eicosapentaeonic Acid (EPA) is a long chain Omega-3 fatty acid. The most common source of EPA is oily fish. Our body can produce EPA out of ALA, but the conversion rate is very low.
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is a long chain Omega-3 fatty acid. It is also mostly found in oily fish. Our body can convert EPA to DHA to a limited extent.

Sleep

Good sleep is one of the foundations of optimal health. Omega 3 DHA stimulates melatonin - the key hormone that facilitates sleep. Melatonin works with the body’s circadian rhythms to help the body prepare for sleep by sending signals to the body that it is time to rest, helping you relax, diminishing levels of other hormones that stimulate alertness, lowering body temperature and blood pressure. Research shows low levels of DHA are linked to melatonin deficiency associated with sleep problems in children and obstructive sleep apnoea in adults, as well as many diseases, including obesity, diabetes and depression.

Heart Disease

• Reducing high levels of Triglycerides – triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. After you eat, your body converts the calories that you don't need into triglycerides and stores them in your fat cells to be used for energy later. Whilst you do need triglycerides to supply your body with energy, elevated levels may lead to heart disease, especially in people with low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of "bad" cholesterol. Omega-3s can significantly reduce high levels of triglycerides.
• Blood pressure: Omega-3s can reduce blood pressure levels in people with high blood pressure
• Cholesterol: Omega-3s can raise “good” HDL cholesterol levels. For some people, omega-3s can also lower “bad” LDL cholesterol.
• Blood clots: Omega-3s can keep blood platelets from clumping together. This helps prevent the formation of harmful blood clots
• Plaque: By keeping your arteries smooth and free from damage, omega-3s help prevent the plaque that can restrict and harden your arteries

Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response to infections and damage in your body. Therefore, it is vital for your health. However, inflammation sometimes persists for a long time, even without an infection or injury. This is called chronic inflammation. Long-term inflammation can contribute to almost every chronic Western illness, including heart disease and cancer. Notably, omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the production of molecules and substances linked to inflammation, such as inflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. Studies have consistently observed a connection between higher omega-3 intake and reduced inflammation.

Eye Health

DHA, a type of omega-3, is a major structural component of the retina of your eye. When you don't get enough DHA, vision problems may arise. Getting enough omega-3 is linked to a reduced risk of macular degeneration, one of the world's leading causes of permanent eye damage and blindness.

Brain Health During Pregnancy and Early Life

Omega-3s are crucial for brain growth and development in infants. DHA accounts for 40% of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in your brain. Getting enough omega-3s during pregnancy is associated with numerous benefits for your child. For example, it has been shown that Omega-3s can reduce symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a behavioural disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Several studies note that children with ADHD have lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s can help to improve inattention and task completion. They also decrease hyperactivity, impulsiveness, restlessness and aggression.

Autoimmune Diseases

Omega-3s can help reduce the symptoms of diseases classed as autoimmune diseases (when the body’s immune response is over activated) including type 1 diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis.

PMS

Cramps, backaches, breast tenderness, and headaches are some of the common PMS symptoms that actually cause physical pain. What they have in common is the relation to prostaglandin production and balance. Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals derived from fatty acids that have a number of different roles in the body. They help promote smooth muscle contraction and blood vessel dilation – essential for a normal menstrual cycle. Omega-3s can help your body produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

Cancer

Recent research suggests that people who consume the most omega-3s have up to a 55% lower risk of colon cancer. Additionally, omega-3 consumption is linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.

Bone and Joint Health

Osteoporosis and arthritis are two common disorders that affect your skeletal system. Studies indicate that omega-3s can improve bone strength by boosting the amount of calcium in your bones, which should lead to a reduced risk of osteoporosis. Omega-3s may also treat arthritis. Patients taking omega-3 supplements have reported reduced joint pain and increased grip strength.

Skin

DHA is a structural component of your skin. It is responsible for the health of cell membranes, which make up a large part of your skin. A healthy cell membrane results in soft, moist, supple and wrinkle-free skin.

EPA also benefits your skin in several ways, including:

• Managing oil production and hydration of your skin.
• Preventing hyperkeratinization of hair follicles, which appears as the little red bumps often seen on upper arms.
• Reducing premature ageing of your skin.
• Reducing the risk of acne.
• Omega-3s can also protect your skin from sun damage. EPA helps block the release of substances that damage the collagen in your skin after sun exposure.

Following an in depth consultation Claudia, your BioMed Health Practitioner, may recommend taking Omega-3s supplements as part of your Personalised Health Plan.

It is involved in many biochemical processes, including promoting energy production within the body’s cells, and DNA replication and repair. It is also an integral component of the digestive and immune systems. COQ10, therefore, plays an important role in maintaining healthy organs, particularly the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys, as these organs have the highest energy requirements.

What are coenzymes?

Coenzymes are small, non protein compounds which work with enzymes to initiate or aid the function of the enzymes. Enzymes are proteins which act as catalysts in all aspects of cell metabolism, regulating the rate at which biochemical reactions take place without themselves being altered in the process.

Why we need CoQ10

CoQ10 is a simple molecule that is naturally produced in our cells’ mitochondria. Its main role is as part of the biochemical process of converting sugar into energy or ATP—an energy source that’s essential for helping cells perform their primary functions. When the building blocks of ATP are not available to your body or something interferes with the recycling process, ATP levels can become low and result in energy deficiency leading to a variety of health problems. Whilst these biochemical reactions create vital energy they also produce free radicals. CoQ10 acts as a natural, potent antioxidant, travelling the body in search of free radicals to counteract oxidative stress. 

It is a water-soluble vitamin that cannot be stored in the body, so we need to consume adequate amounts of Vitamin C each day to support the healthy functioning of these systems.

Vitamin C is important for general good health because it:

• Helps to maintain the immune system.
• Is essential for the formation of collagen, the most abundant protein in the connective tissues of the body, which is necessary for the normal formation and functioning of the blood vessels, the bones, teeth and gums, the skin and all cartilage.
• Contributes to normal psychological function.
• Needed for the functioning of the nervous system.
• Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
• Helps to protect cells from oxidative stress.
• Helps to “recycle” vitamin E so it can continue its work.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant

Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system and protect your cells from free radical damage. Free radicals, the molecular byproducts of turning food into energy, are constantly being produced by your body’s chemical reactions, and serve important functions that are essential for health. For example, your immune cells use free radicals to fight infection. However, an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to counteract or detoxify their damaging effects through neutralization with antioxidants, can result in a state called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to cell and tissue damage and has been linked to many diseases including heart disease and cancer. So your body needs to maintain a certain balance of free radicals and antioxidants.

Vitamin C helps iron absorption

Vitamin C increases non- haem (non-meat) iron absorption. Iron has an important role in the body as it contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body and is needed for the formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.

Vitamin C deficiency

The most common risk factors for Vitamin C deficiency are poor diet, alcoholism, anorexia, smoking and dialysis. Over time, a lack of vitamin C means that new collagen cannot be formed. This causes various tissues in your body to start to break down and the health and repair of your body becomes affected.

Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency

• Fatigue/depression
• Chronic Inflammation
• Oxidative Stress
• Weak Immune System
• Painful, swollen Joints
• Dry skin
• Wounds slow to heal
• Inflamed/bleeding gums
• Brittle nails
• Weak bones

Requirements

Adult males should consume 90 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per day and females should consume 75 mg per day, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During pregnancy, women should have 85 mg a day, and 120 mg while breastfeeding.

Good food sources of vitamin C

Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables including:

• Oranges and orange juice
• Red and green peppers
• Strawberries
• Blackcurrants
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Potato/sweet potato
• Parsley
• Papaya
• Kiwi fruit
• Kale
• Spinach

Vitamin C supplements

As the body doesn’t produce it’s own Vitamin C, and because it is involved in many vital processes within the body, Vitamin C is an important supplement, particularly if the diet lacks Vitamin C rich nutrients.

Benefits include:

• Boosts immune system by improving cell functions
• May lower the risk of cataracts as well as of age-related macular degeneration.
• Strong antioxidant that may reduce risk of chronic disease
• Helps prevent acute respiratory infections
• May help reduce high blood pressure
• Can reduce heart disease risk factors
• Could reduce uric acid levels-helpful in preventing gout
• Helps prevent iron deficiency by improving absorption

Why is vitamin C especially important for athletes?

Intense activity can impair the ability of the immune system to work normally and can increase the number of free radicals. Vitamin C can help athletes by maintaining the immune system during and after intense exercise and helping to protect cells from oxidative stress.

Why is a time release formula important for vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, meaning you will only absorb so much at a time and is rapidly lost from the body. It’s best taken in regular small amounts so a time-released formula means slower release of Vitamin C over time, which will maximise the amount you absorb from each dose.

Screening and Treatment

BioMed provides a screening service, Bioresonance Screening, which flags up imbalances within the body. Following an in depth consultation and using the data provided by the screening tests, your BioMed Health Practitioner, Claudia, will create a personalized healing protocol. This may include nutritional supplements, individually formulated homeopathic tinctures and lifestyle changes.

Vitamin C injections are also available at BioMed clinics.  BOOK NOW

...that plays an important role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system and the production of red blood cells. It is involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, affecting DNA synthesis and regulation, fatty acid synthesis and energy production.

Like most vitamins, Vitamin B12 is not produced by the body but comes from nutrients in the foods we eat or from supplements. The main food sources are animal foods, including meats, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy. It can also be found in seaweed and in products fortified with B12, such as some varieties of bread and plant-based milk.

To keep the body’s various systems functioning well the average adult needs to take in around 2.4 micrograms of B12 a day. But some people don’t consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their body’s needs whilst others, due to a variety of physical conditions, don’t absorb enough. It is rare for young people to be deficient in vitamin B12, but it is not uncommon for older people to be mildly deficient. It is estimated that up to 20% of adults over age 50 may have a borderline vitamin B12 deficiency, and 3.2% have seriously low B12 level.

The causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Diet - people who do not eat animal products (or seaweed) run the risk of becoming deficient in B12. Those who exclude meat from their diet but do eat fish and dairy will be much less at risk of developing a deficiency because dairy products make B12 ‘more bioavailable’
• Intrinsic factor deficiency - Intrinsic factor is a protein that helps your intestines absorb vitamin B12. It is made by cells in the stomach lining. Some people don’t make enough intrinsic factor or have a condition that destroys it. If your body does not make enough intrinsic factor, you can develop a type of vitamin B12 deficiency called pernicious anaemia.
• (see Gastric Atrophy below for further detail)
• Conditions that affect the small intestine - which can interfere with B12 absorption – for example Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, and an imbalance in gut bacteria
• Medications - some medications, for example proton pump inhibitors used to control acid indigestion, can worsen vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because stomach acid is needed to release vitamin B12 bound to proteins in food. Some antibiotics can lead to B12 deficiency.
• Weight loss surgery

Symptoms

Vitamin B12 deficiency - which can be slow to develop - causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time – but can also happen relatively quickly - can lead to a variety of health conditions, some serious, if untreated.

Symptoms include:

• Depression/Anxiety
• Fatique
• Loss of physical co-ordination -difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
• Pins and needles (especially in your hands and feet)/numbness
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Difficulty thinking and reasoning (cognitive difficulties), or memory loss
• Swollen and sore tongue (glossitis)/mouth ulcers
• Shortness of breath
• Blurred vision
• Anaemia

Anaemia

Anaemia is where you have fewer red blood cells than normal or you have an abnormally low amount of a substance called haemoglobin in each red blood cell.

General symptoms of anaemia may include:

• Fatigue
• Breathlessness
• Feeling faint
• Headaches
• Pale skin
• Palpitations
• Tinnitus
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

Some of these symptoms can also present in people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency but have not developed anaemia.

Gastric Atrophy (Atrophic Gastritis)

Atrophy is the medical word used to describe ‘wasting away’. Gastric Atrophy is the result of chronic inflammation of the stomach lining which means it cannot produce hydrochloric acid (needed to break down food), pepsin (that helps speed up the break-up of food) or Intrinsic Factor which is necessary to help extract B12 from food. Atrophic Gastritis can be caused by advancing age, by Helicobacter Pylori or by Autoimmune Gastritis where the patient produces antibodies that destroy either the Parietal Cells or Intrinsic Factor or both. Patients who produce antibodies that destroy their Intrinsic Factor will be diagnosed as having Pernicious Anaemia.

Pernicious Anaemia

The most common underlying cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is Pernicious Anaemia - an autoimmune disorder indicated by the absence of intrinsic factor (IF). An autoimmune condition means your immune system, the body's natural defence system that protects against illness and infection, attacks your body's healthy cells. In the case of Pernicious Anaemia, the body produces an antibody that attacks the protein (IF) responsible for extracting vitamin B12 from food.

Peripheral Neuropathy

A lack of B12 can damage the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects nerves. Without this protection, nerves cease to function properly and conditions such as Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) occur. PN indicates a problem with the functionality of the peripheral nerves responsible for the transmission of signals from the central nervous system to the rest of the body and from the body back to the brain. Depending on which type of peripheral nerve is affected, PN may produce a wide variety of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. In a lot of cases, other health conditions perpetuate PN, and thus, it can be both a symptom and disease unto itself.

Vitamin B12 Shots

BioMed offers in house diagnostic tests and blood tests (sent away) to screen for vitamin B12 deficiency and any other underlying imbalances.

Using the data provided BioMed may recommend Vitamin B12 supplements or regular injections. More frequent shots may be required initially to treat the deficiency but an injection is usually then given every three months to treat/prevent B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 injections are now available at our clinics.  BOOK NOW

to keep the body’s systems functioning well. Micronutrients, although needed only in minuscule amounts, are crucial in the production of enzymes, hormones and other substances essential for healthy growth and development.

Vitamin A, as well as being essential for vision under conditions of poor lighting, helps keep skin and mucous membranes that line the nose, sinuses, and mouth healthy. It also plays an important role in:

• Immune system function
• Growth
• Bone formation
• Reproduction
• Wound healing
• Urinary system
• Digestive system
• Cell regeneration

Sources of Vitamin A

Because the body cannot manufacture vitamins, it obtains them from the nutrient-rich foods we eat. All the sources of vitamin A need some fat in the diet to aid absorption. Vitamin A from food is stored in the liver until required by the body and is bound to protein before being transported to where it is needed.

Vitamin A compounds are found in both animal and plant foods and come in two different forms: preformed vitamin A from animal sources and provitamin A from plant sources.

Preformed vitamin A, found as retinol in animal products, is the active form of the vitamin and can be used by the body just as it is.

Good sources include:

• cheese
• eggs
• oily fish
• fortified low-fat spreads
• milk and yoghurt
• liver and liver products such as liver pâté

Some oils, for example palm oil, and fortified cereals also contain Vitamin A.

Provitamin A carotenoids — alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin — are the inactive form of the vitamin found in plants. Carotenoids, which act as a type of antioxidant, are the pigments that give plants their green colour and some fruits and vegetables their red or orange colour. These compounds are converted during digestion to the active form in the body. For example, beta-carotene, the most important type of carotenoid, is converted to retinol in your small intestine.

The main food sources of beta-carotene are:

• yellow, red and green (leafy) vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and red peppers
• yellow fruit, such as mango, papaya and apricots, cantaloupes

What are the causes of vitamin A deficiency?

Vitamin A deficiency can be caused by prolonged inadequate intake of vitamin A. This is especially so when rice is the main food in your diet (rice doesn't contain any carotene). Vitamin A deficiency may also occur when your body is unable to make use of the vitamin A in your diet. Mild forms of vitamin A deficiency may cause no symptoms but can lead to fatigue

Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency

• Dry Eyes. Eye problems are some of the most well-known issues related to vitamin A deficiency
• Night Blindness
• Dry Skin
• Infertility and Trouble Conceiving
• Delayed Growth
• Throat and Chest Infections
• Poor Wound Healing
• Acne and Breakouts

An increased risk of vitamin A deficiency occurs in:

• People with illnesses affecting the way food is absorbed from the gut (bowel) into the body
• People who have had weight reduction surgery
• People who have a strict vegan diet
• Prolonged excessive alcohol intake
• Other forms of liver disease, as vitamin A is stored in the liver
• Toddlers and preschool children living in poverty

What is the treatment for vitamin A deficiency?

The treatment for mild forms of vitamin A deficiency includes eating vitamin A-rich foods as described above.

For more severe forms of vitamin A deficiency causing symptoms, treatment includes taking daily oral vitamin A Nutritional-supplements

If you feel you may have Vitamin A deficiency and would like to find out for sure, please contact us at BioMed. We offer Diagnostic profiling

but there is now recognition that we are one highly integrated and complex system and that physical and mental health should often be addressed simultaneously.

In the past, diet and nutrition have been mostly linked to physical health but new research suggests there is a direct link between the quality of our diet and mental and cognitive symptoms across different life stages. These associations are often independent of other factors commonly contributing to poor mental health such as socio-economic status, education, social support or body weight.

Diet quality and mental outcomes are directly linked to physiological processes. Poor diet and poor mental health are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Studies show that we don’t consume enough whole grain, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. But we do eat too much processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium (salt).

A quality diet can be defined as:

High intake and high variety of plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds.

Moderate intake of a quality proteins such as seafood, lean meats and dairy.

Low intake of highly processed foods.

What is mental health and mental disorder?

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is: “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”.
(World Health Organization 2005, p. 47)

The 2018 Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development defined mental ill health or mental disorder as “disturbances of thought, emotion, behaviour, and relationships with others that lead to substantial suffering and functional impairment in one or more major life activities”. (Patel, et al., 2018, p. 49)

Common mental health and brain disorders

During their lives people may experience numerous states on the mental health continuum from common issues of stress or worry to more persistent concerns of distress or anxiety.

Depression is classified as a common mental health disorder. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects approximately 300 million people worldwide and is currently one of the leading causes of disability.

• Symptoms of depression include:
• low mood and mood swings
• irritability and loss of interest
• bodily complaints or fatigue without defined physical problems
• changes in appetite (decrease or increase) and sleep
• low participation in work and social activities.

Other mental health and brain disorders include anxiety, addiction, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, autism and dementia. Mental health issues and disorders are more common in areas of social disadvantage.

Although mental health issues are complex in nature, most conditions can be mitigated through diet and nutritional supplementation.

Lifestyle factors that affect mental and brain health can be modified.

Lifestyle factors include:

• diet
• physical activity
• sleep
• alcohol and substance use.

Physical inactivity

Research has shown that mental health problems are quite common in individuals who take little or no exercise. However, those problems have shown significant improvement with increased levels of activity and exercise, improving general fitness and wellbeing.

Lack of ‘good’ sleep

Stress-related insomnia or sleep apnoea affect around 20% of people and could have a significant effect on physical activity and psychological resilience. This increases the risk for developing mental issues.

Nutrition-what our body needs

Energy and macronutrients

Macronutrients in food, essentially carbohydrate, protein, and fat provide the energy the body’s systems require to function properly. Fibre and water are not considered sources of energy, but could be also viewed as macronutrients. Each of these macronutrients has a specific role in metabolic processes.

Carbohydrates-the primary source of energy production.
Whole grains, legumes and root vegetables contain more important, fibrous and starchy carbohydrates than foods that contain a high proportion of sugar.

Fats

Dietary fats, or fatty acids, are also a valuable source of energy. Fats can be naturally occurring in animal-based (saturated fat) and plant-based (monounsaturated and polysaturated fat) foods.

Proteins

Proteins obtained from diet and broken down to amino acids are required for cell structure and function. Both animal and plant sources of protein contain all the amino acids required for healthy living.

Fibre

Plant-based foods are packed with fibre. There are several types of fibre that are poorly or not digested in the human gastrointestinal tract. Dietary fibres can have multiple health benefits that are essential for optimal gut microbiota function.

Micronutrients: vitamins and minerals

A balanced diet should provide the essential vitamins and minerals the body requires.

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are abundant in dairy products and plant oils, while the main dietary source of water-soluble vitamins (B and C) are plant foods, such as fruit and vegetables.

Most balanced diets are also abundant in dietary minerals, such as, calcium, potassium or magnesium; and trace elements, for example, zinc, selenium or iron.

However, many of us are deficient in essential micronutrients for a wide variety of reasons, and therefore NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS are required for optimum health and wellbeing.

Inflammation

Evidence shows that certain health conditions, such as chronic fatigue, are linked to systemic and peripheral inflammation. Inflammation is a chronic activation of the immune system. Poor diet can significantly contribute to the state of inflammation. Following an anti-inflammatory diet with high intakes of plant foods, seafood and olive oil will benefit gut mucosal immunity which in turn can impact mental health.

BioMed - Personalised nutrition

Claudia, your BioMed Health Practitioner, takes a personalised approach to improving mental health through diet. Based on a comprehensive assessment of your individual biological and psychological profile, Claudia will develop a dietary strategy and healing protocol, tailored to your personal needs, that is realistic and manageable.

To go ahead please complete the BioMed Assessment Form https://biomednaturalhealth.com/images/documents/BioMedic-Assessment-Form.pdf

To complete - download/print edit and email back to enquiries@biomednaturalhealth.com