Monthly Archives: August 2016

Aloe Gold Cherry/ Cranberry, Aloe Gold Natural, Aloe vera products, Heart health, Herbal Aloe Vera Ear Drops, Immune health, Vitamins & Minerals

Aloe vera: the plant extract packed with 200-plus nutrients

Aloe vera? Many of us have heard of it, haven’t we? Familiar thanks to its mention as an ingredient in skin creams and cosmetic products in so many TV ads, aloe vera (also called aloe barbadensis) is in fact a succulent plant species originating from various tropical parts of the world that’s been a health staple for millennia in many different cultures. As such, it’s been used to soothe burns, moisturise skin and heal small wounds for hundreds of years.

Today, though, it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘superfood’. Now, you may feel this sounds like a bit of advertising bunkum, but it surely can lay claim to such a lofty title thanks to the 200-plus vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it contains. Yes, really; it does contain that many.

To begin with, it’s packed full of Vitamin A (great for healthy teeth, bones, skin and eyes), Vitamin C (for skin health, energy creation and immunity), Vitamin E (for skin protection from UV damage), Vitamin B12 (for nerve and brain cell health), folic acid (for brain and liver health and energy creation) and choline (for memory, focus and maintaining a positive outlook).

Moreover, aloe vera contains calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc; all of which play a critical role in hormone balance, cellular reproduction and strong immunity. And it also features a long list of enzymes (which together aid digestion, toxin removal and energy creation), including alliinase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase and peroxidase.

Indeed, it’s aloe vera’s varied nutritional benefits (thanks to all these ingredients and away from merely combating wrinkles and healthy skin) that the public tends to be less aware of and what we’re interested in here. So let’s take a closer look at a few of them…

Immunity

To combat infection effectively, our immune systems require oxygen-rich blood and, by supporting nutrient absorption, aloe vera plays a key role in ensuring they get it1.One way in which it does this is the detoxifying role it plays in ensuring bowel regularity to aid normal digestive tract function2. Aloe vera also works to keep cells in balance and functioning well (not least when the body experiences stress), which aids the immune system’s efficacy3, as does the fact it’s jam-packed with sugar-rich carbohydrates called polysaccharides4 and antioxidants that combat free radicals5.

Digestion

Among all its terrifically health-giving ingredients, aloe vera also contains the digestion-supporting enzymes amylase (which aids in the break-down of carbohydrates, sugars and starches) and lipase (which contributes to digesting fat); both aid a normal environment in the gut through helping to maintain balanced levels of stomach acid5, 6.

Meanwhile, studies suggest it also helps with ulcerative colitis (UC), the painful condition that sees ulcers take root in the intestines. The results of a clinical trial reveal that nearly half (46%) of a group of UC sufferers enjoyed an improvement in their symptoms after taking aloe vera7. And don’t overlook the contribution it can make to addressing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – symptoms of which include abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea – for reports suggest people have gained relief from IBS symptoms following consumption of aloe vera8, 9.

Cardiovascular

Keeping down the levels of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your body’s important for the health of your heart and blood vessels and compounds known as phytosterols, which aloe vera’s also rich in, can contribute greatly here10. Indeed, a five-year long study has found that patients suffering from heart disease who consumed aloe vera enjoyed better cholesterol and blood sugar numbers than those who received none over that period of time11, 12.

Teeth and mouth

And, finally, recent research suggests you could use aloe vera in fluid form to keep your teeth and gums healthy13, while aloe vera in gel form’s useful in fighting candida albicans, a fungus that can commonly afflict the mouth14.

Supplements

So, hopefully convinced as you are now of its vast array of health benefits; how can you best get your hands on aloe vera? Well, a great way to consume this ‘superfood’ is through aloe vera supplements. The following are all examples available through The Finchley Clinic that we highly recommend:

Aloe Gold Natural (485ml and 1,000ml) – made from whole-leaf aloe vera and contains more than 20 times more important nutrients than most other aloe juices and gels.

Aloe-Gold-Cherry-Cranberry

Aloe Gold Cherry/ Cranberry (485ml) – blends Aloe Gold juice (93%) with unsprayed cherry or cranberry juice (7%) to provide a delicious flavour; cranberry is renowned for supporting the urinary tract.

Herbal Aloe Vera Ear Drops (30ml) – great for soothingly cleansing the ear canal and suitable for young and old, among them frequent swimmers, hearing aid wearers and allergy sufferers.

References:

1 Benzie, I. F. F. and Wachtel-Galor S. ‘Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects’. Boca Raton: CRC, 2011.
2 Barcroft A. and Myskja A. ‘Aloe Vera: Nature’s Silent Healer’. London: BAAM, 2003. Print.
3 Rahmani A. H, Aldebasi Y. H., Srikar S., Khan A. A. and Aly S. M. ‘Aloe vera: Potential candidate in health management via modulation of biological activities’. Pharmacognosy Reviews. 2015; 9 (18): 120-126. doi:10.4103/0973-7847. 162118.
4 Tong H., Tian D., Li T., Wang B., Jiang G. and Sun X.. ‘Inhibition of inflammatory injure by polysaccharides from Bupleurum chinense through antagonizing P-selectin’. Carbohydr Polym. 2014 May 25;105:20-5. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.01.039. Epub 2014 Jan 21.
5 Surjushe A., Vasani R. and Saple D. G. ‘Aloe Vera: A Short Review’. Indian Journal of Dermatology. Medknow Publications, n.d. Web. 12 Feb 2016.
6 Keshavarzi Z., Rezapour T. M., Vatanchian M. et al. ‘The effects of aqueous extract of Aloe vera leaves on the gastric acid secretion and brain and intestinal water content following acetic acid- induced gastric ulcer in male rats’. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine. 2014; 4 (2): 137-143.
7 Langmead L., Feakins R. M., Goldthorpe S., Holt H., Tsironi E., De Silva A., Jewell D. P. and Rampton D. S. ‘Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis’. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Apr 1; 19 (7): 739-47.
8 Khedmat H., Karbasi A., Amini M., Aghaei A. and Taheri S. ‘Aloe vera in treatment of refractory irritable bowel syndrome: Trial on Iranian patients.’ Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. 2013; 18 (8): 732.
9 Størsrud S., Pontén I. and Simrén M. ‘A Pilot Study of the Effect of Aloe barbadensis Mill. Extract (AVH200®) in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study’. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2015 Sep; 24 (3): 275-80. doi: 10.15403/ jgld.2014.1121.243.sst.
10 Ostlund R. E. Jr. ‘Phytosterols and cholesterol metabolism’. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2004 Feb; 15 (1): 37-41.
11 Agarwal O. P. ‘Prevention of atheromatous heart disease’. Angiology. 1985 Aug; 36 (8): 485-92.
12 Tanaka M., Misawa E., Ito Y., Habara N., Nomaguchi K., Yamada M., Toida T., Hayasawa H., Takase M., Inagaki M. and Higuchi R. ‘Identification of five phytosterols from Aloe vera gel as anti-diabetic compounds’. Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Jul; 29 (7): 1418-22.
13 Karim B., Bhaskar D. J., Agali C., Gupta D., Gupta R. K., Jain A. and Kanwar A. ‘Effect of Aloe vera mouthwash on periodontal health: triple blind randomized control trial’. Oral Health Dent Manag. 2014 Mar; 13 (1): 14-9.
14 Sujatha G., Kumar G. S., Muruganandan J. and Prasad T. S. ‘Aloe Vera in Dentistry’. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR. 2014; 8 (10): ZI01-ZI02. doi:10.7860/ JCDR/ 2014/ 8382.4983.

General Health & Nutrition

Kidslac, Antioxidant Supreme and other products on sale

1 Comment

 

We’ll keep this one brief. We’ve got up to 70% off on a number of clearance items (due to short expiry dates) in our summer sale. The full list is found here. Most of these products are being sold at cost price, and in some cases significantly below cost price! We urge you to view the sales page now, as once they’re gone, they’re gone.

​The sale items include multivitamin supplements, probiotics, psyllium husks (i.e constipation relief), children’s products, and more.

​

A couple of the highlights of the sale include : –

Kidslac 35% Off   – Pleasant tasting childrens probiotic (though we know a few grown ups take it too!) – Just 19 boxes available at the time of writing

Antioxidant Supreme 35% Off – Just 7 boxes available at the time of writing. This is the director’s personal favourite wide spectrum probiotic formulation (out of several similar products we provide), designed for long term usage, and the one he uses to oppose free radical activity and aging. He believes that everyone seeking optimal general health or looking at it more negatively, illness (of almost any kind) prevention should take a product of this kind.

Please note if you visit the page, and either of these products are not there, it means they’ve already been snapped up, though you can of course still purchase them at the regular price.

​Price rises

On a sadder note, it’s looking increasingly inevitable that a few product prices will have to go up when our current stock runs out. This is largely because we purchase a lot of our products in US$. We have had the poor performance of the £ against the $ over the last 2 months, although in truth, the £ had slipped quite a bit even before that compared with the same time a year ago – even after the Brexit vote. Also, our shipping costs have gone up tremendously over the last year or so. We don’t fully understand this, bearing in mind the fact that petrol and oil prices are currently very low, but this is what has been occurring nonetheless. We will not raise prices if we don’t have to, especially as we urged customers to vote for Brexit in order to get our health freedoms back again, which have been disgracefully stolen from our customers over the last ten years.But on the other hand, we will not put ourselves out of business, and have to trade with some profit.

​The Finchley Clinic Team

www.thefinchleyclinic.com

Colosan, Mag 07 Oxygen colon Cleanse, Oxy-Powder, Oxygen Colon Cleansers, Oxygen Health, Oxygen Products

The importance of oxygen to the body

Oxygen. We all know what it is, right? One of the first elements on the periodic table and represented there by the letter ‘O’. The one-part to hydrogen’s two that, together, make up water. And, maybe most important to us and all living things on this planet, the air-bound, colourless, odourless gas that we breathe in and without which we can’t survive. But why is that? Why can’t we live without oxygen? Just why is it so important to us? And what happens – and what can we do – when we don’t get enough of it?

Aerobic and cellular respiration

As many are aware, via the act of breathing (respiration) the body takes in oxygen and releases waste gas from its lungs, namely carbon dioxide. This is what’s specifically referred to as aerobic respiration; that’s to say, it refers specifically to the breathing in and consumption of oxygen to help create energy in the body to feed our cells. How does this happen? Well, as the air you’ve breathed in reaches your lungs, it makes its way into their microscopic air sacs (alveoli) and, from there, the oxygen slips through their shallow walls and passes into the bloodstream1, through which it’s transported to the body’s millions of different cells where it plays its critical role in the process of converting vitamins and nutrients into energy (referred to as cellular respiration)2,3. And it’s from this process that, along with water, the body creates CO2 as a by-product.

Oxygen health and deprivation

Now, obviously, the higher the oxygen content in the body, the higher the rate of activity its cells can perform at. So when the body takes in more oxygen, the more hydrated it becomes and the better it can function. And, naturally, the healthier it is too4. For instance, using a study conducted on laboratory mice as an example, a group of these mice were proved, by receiving supplemental oxygen, to have developed better immune function, a higher count of T cells (a type of white blood cells that play an important role in immunity) and actually lived around twice as long as a comparative group that had received normal levels of oxygen5.

So much for high levels of oxygen intake, but what if you’re not getting adequate oxygen in the first place? Well, under that scenario, suffering health problems are pretty much guaranteed6. In fact, maybe one of the unexpected truths of oxygen deprivation is it doesn’t just occur suddenly (in the manner of choking or drowning), but can also occur over the long-term; say, months or even years. How so? A common cause is that levels of poor quality indoor air7 and outside air pollution (carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ground-level ozone) are ever rising8.

Oxygen cleansing

Finally, you may not know it, but there’s another – far less well known – way oxygen can do your body a lot of good. That is, helping to cleanse your body of impurities, not least those present in the colon. These impurities get into our bodies via the water and fluids we drink, the foods we eat and often too the different environments we live in – so, yes, via the air we breathe. But the inherent goodness of oxygen (its natural health-supporting and cleansing abilities) does a terrific job in combining with our bodies’ in-built self-healing mechanisms, ensuring impurities, blockages and the like can be removed.

oxy-powder-capsules

Indeed, a product formulated with soothing oxygen that’s achieved great results for people by gently cleansing and detoxifying their digestive tracts is Oxy-Powder (120 capsules). It’s one of the major oxygen cleansing products on the market and is available through The Finchley Clinic – and needless to say, we highly recommend it. Other colon-cleansing products we sell that leverage the power of oxygen include both Mag 07 Oxygen Colon Cleanse (a fast-acting, vegan-friendly digestive-system-cleanser and supplement that’s designed to release oxygen over a 12-hour period; available in 180 capsules, 120 capsules, 90 capsules and as a powder) and Colosan powder (a magnesium based colon-cleansing product that oxygenates the bowels at the same time).

References:

1 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. ‘What Happens When You Breathe?’ U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 17 July 2012. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

2 Alberts B., Johnson A., Lewis J. et al. ‘How Cells Obtain Energy from Food’. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002.

3 Hyperphysics. phy. ‘Cellular Respiration’. Hyperphysics, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

4 Nhlbi. nih. ‘What Is Oxygen Therapy?’ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 24 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

5 Hatfield S. M. et al. ‘Immunological mechanisms of the antitumor effects of supplemental oxygenation’. Science Translational Medicine.­­­ Vol. 7, March 4, 2015, p. 277 ra30. doi: 10.1126/ scitranslmed. aaa1260.

6 LaValle, J. B., and Lundin, S. Yale. ‘Cracking the Metabolic Code: 9 Keys to Optimal Health’. North Bergen, NJ: Basic Health Publications, 2004.

7 Environmental Protection Agency. ‘Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality’. (n.d.): 5-12. EPA.gov. Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 2014. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

8 AirNow. ‘Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics’. AirNow.gov, 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.

Arthritis, MSM, Osteoplex

Dealing with arthritis conditions – it’s not just drugs and surgery

For many of us, getting old and our joints becoming painful and affecting our mobility is just a part of ageing. We hope we won’t get arthritis but accept we may, so it’ll simply be what happens when we reach an advanced age.

Today, arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, with more than 20 million afflicted people experiencing severe limitations in their daily lives1. Staggeringly, it accounts each year for almost one million hospitalisations and nearly 45 million outpatient visits2 – and it’s been estimated the financial cost of arthritis is close to $100 billion, almost half of which is in loss of earnings.

But is all this inevitable? Well, there are actually several different forms of arthritis, thus the causes are complex. But, equally, that means nobody afflicted by arthritis should give in to the disease – as there also various forms of treatments available with the potential to greatly improve sufferers’ quality of life.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

The two most often-suffered forms of the condition are osteoarthritis (or non-inflammatory arthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis (or inflammatory arthritis). The most common form of all is the former. Potentially affecting hands, wrists, feet, the back, hips and knees of sufferers, it afflicts more than three in every 10 women by the time they reach 65 years of age. And it can be caused, in part, by obesity and sedentary lifestyles, as well as previous joint trauma.

For its part, rheumatoid arthritis sees the body’s immune system attack its own tissues – not least joints in the fingers, wrists elbows and knees (potentially leading to deformity if left untreated). But why does the immune system do this? It could well be because a sufferer lacks certain minerals in their body (e.g. potassium, calcium and magnesium). Indeed, if you’re not getting enough – of the right form of – calcium in your diet (irrespective of whether you drink milk or not), your body won’t produce enough synovial fluid, which is what lubricates the joints. And, without effective lubrication, the bones in joints will rub against each other and result in cartilage decay and an inflammation response.

Moreover, if somebody’s suffering from arthritis it also means they’ll have too many toxins in their body and, owing to the onset of the condition, it’s likely one of the places that the body chooses to dump these toxins will be the joints – these toxins that will cover and coat chronosytes, the cells that produce synovial fluid, hence the fluid won’t effectively be produced doubly over. Plus, of course, it’s these toxins that the immune system is aiming for when it attacks the body’s tissues and, here in particular, the joints.

Treatment

1. Medication

For rheumatoid arthritis, a likely form of treatment is biological medication, which will doubtless involve injections; however, the most common medical treatment comprises ‘disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs’ (DMARDs). Taken as tablets, they look to ease symptoms and slow down the progress of the disease. They work by blocking the effectiveness of the immune system’s chemicals when they attack the body’s joints. Typical DMARDs include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide and sulfasalazine.

2. Surgery

To reduce pain or correct deformities, surgery is an option that’s sometimes turned to, for example:

  • carpal tunnel release – to treat abnormal bending or remove inflamed tissue lining the finger joints by cutting a ligament so pressure on a nerve is relieved or finger tendons released
  • arthroscopy – to remove inflamed joint tissue via the insertion of a thin tube with a light source into the joint and then removing the damaged tissue using special surgical instruments inserted through other small cuts in the skin
  • arthroplasty – to replace parts of or all of a joint (i.e. hip, knee or shoulder) for someone with advanced rheumatoid arthritis; the latest replacement joints tend to have a lifespan of 10-20 years.

3. Physiotherapy

This form of treatment is well regarded for improving fitness and muscle strength and the flexibility of joints among arthritis sufferers. Physiotherapy may also provide effective pain relief via heat packs or ice packs or via transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which sees a small electrical pulse applied to an affected joint to numb the nerve endings.

4. Complementary therapy

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis try complementary therapies – such as massage, acupuncture, osteopathy and chiropractic therapy – for short-term relief from symptoms.

5. Supplements

Finally, for those suffering from the effects of arthritis, boosting the body’s mineral content through specific arthritis supplements could also be highly beneficial. All the following supplements are available through The Finchley Clinic and come highly recommended for arthritis sufferers:

MSM-90-tabletsMSM (methyl sulphonyl methane) aids in cartilage formation and collagen generation, helping to maintain joint and muscle health, while it may also assist liver detoxification in the body and aid immunity; available in tablet form (1,000mg – 90 tablets, 180 tablets, 250 tablets and 500 tablets), as a warming balm and in powder form (200g, 454g and 900g)

 

 

OsteoplexOsteoplex (90 capsules) contains nutrients that help strengthen the skeletal system, bone health and the function of nerves and muscles, including magnesium, boron, Vitamins D and K, beta carotene and calcium citrate

 

 

NutracoolNutracool is an all-natural rub-in formula that provides soothing relief from strained muscles and joint and knee tenderness.

 

 

References:

1 CDC.gov. 2016. Arthritis. At A Glance Reports. Publications. Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/arthritis.htm.

2 Yelin, E., Cisternas, M., Pasta, D., Trupin, L. “Direct and Indirect Costs of Musculoskeletal Conditions in 1997: Total and Incremental Estimates Revised Final Report” (July, 2003).

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Muscle health, Vitamin D, Women’s health

IBS and muscle-strengthening: what Vitamin D supplements can do for you

Now that we’re in the summer months, it seems fitting to take this opportunity to talk about Vitamin D. Perennially associated with sunshine, Vitamin D’s an umbrella term for a group of fat-soluble secosteroids, two notable examples of which are vitamins D3 (cholecalciferol) and D2 (ergocalciferol), whose most common consumption method is through the skin via the UVB radiation of the Sun’s rays. Also relatively well known is that if young children are deficient in Vitamin D it can lead to rickets, a form of the bone-softening condition osteomalacia.

But what else? What else do we know about Vitamin D? Well, for a lot of people, that’s probably about it, even though, predictably enough, that’s really only the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, recent research has linked deficiency of this particular vitamin to two – intriguingly – very different but widespread ailments: irregular bowel syndrome (IBS) and loss of muscle strength in post-menopausal women.

That ‘leaky gut’ feeling

Our intestines are home to a whole host of Vitamin D receptors, which enable the nutrient’s presence there to protect the intestines’ lining, thereby preventing inflammation and so-called ‘leaky gut’ and, thus, the development of IBS. The condition doesn’t just result in discomfort, diarrhoea, pain and embarrassment, but is often linked to stress, anxiety and depression – research results have shown that its sufferers can often demonstrate undeniably higher levels of anxiety and depression than non-suffers1. Potentially affecting people’s quality of life then, IBS is a big deal – not least because at least one in five people (20%) suffer from the syndrome.

And IBS’s link to Vitamin D deficiency shouldn’t be understated – a recent study for the British Medical Journal discovered that more than four in five (82%) of IBS patients were deficient in it. Unsurprisingly then, supplemented Vitamin D was proved to do them a great deal of good. According to the conclusion of the three-month study, those who’d taken Vitamin D supplements not only saw increased levels of it in their bloodstream, but their final results also suggested a big correlation between their Vitamin D status and improved ‘quality of life’2.

Build up your muscle strength

Only a fool would suggest that the menopause isn’t a complicated and often difficult time in a woman’s life. And, with all the hormonal changes going on in the female body at this point, bone health can become an issue. Many may not be aware, though, that muscle strength – or lack of it – can also be a concern thanks to ‘the change’. Both during and after menopause, oestrogen levels decrease and this can result in sarcopenia – a gradual, ongoing drop in muscle mass.

Is this enormously serious? Well, inside muscles, Vitamin D acts on special receptors, helping to drive up the mass and strength of the muscle as well as becoming involved in protein synthesis, which enables muscle contractions; thus, it plays a critical role in healthy muscle function. All this means that, due to Vitamin D deficiency, post-menopausal women can be at risk of potential frailty (and so reduced mobility) as well as frequent falls. And it can also help drive that particularly unpopular side-effect of menopause, weight gain – because it leads to a lower metabolism.

Inevitably then, help can come from boosting Vitamin D. A recent nine-month study, conducted at Sao Paulo State University in Brazil, found that post-menopausal women who had received Vitamin D3 supplementation enjoyed a 25% increase in muscle strength, while conversely, a similar group of volunteers receiving a placebo instead actually lost muscle mass – and experienced twice as many falls as those taking Vitamin D3.

Optimisation through supplementation

The results of these studies, as well as the fact IBS and muscle softness among post-menopausal women is common, is sadly not surprising (at least in this country) when one considers that four in every 10 (39%) of UK adults experience low vitamin D levels when the sun’s at its weakest in the winter. Indeed, ageing adults (the most likely to spend a good deal of time indoors) are most vulnerable to this nutrient deficiency4.

It’s pretty clear then that most people could probably do with optimising their Vitamin D levels. The trouble is, of course, this is easier said than done, as for half the year in many parts of the world (and, again, certainly in the UK), there isn’t much in the way of sunlight from which to gain it. So the answer? Supplementation. Happily, there are many supplements that contain Vitamin D on the market and, through The Finchley Clinic, you can get hold of the following examples, all of which we obviously recommend:

Vitamin-D3

 

  • Bio-D – liquid-based; 100 ius of Vitamin D per drop
  • Bio-Mulsion – also liquid-based; 1,000 ius of Vitamin D per drop
  • Vitasorb D – 12.5 ius of Vitamin D per drop (low dosage for children and sensitive individuals)
  • Suntrex D3 – vegan-friendly, lichen-derived form of Vitamin D

 

References:

11 Hyun Sun Cho et al (2011) “Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome”. Gut Liver. 5 (1): 29–36

12 Tazzyman S. et al (2015) “Vitamin D associates with improved quality of life in participants with irritable bowel syndrome: outcomes from a pilot trial”. BMJ Open Gastro 2: e000052.

13 The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). “Vitamin D3 supplementation helps women build muscle even after menopause: new study demonstrates vitamin effectiveness in reducing degeneration and risk of falls.” September 2015.

14 NICE. “Vitamin D: increasing supplement use in at-risk groups”. November 2014. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph56 Accessed 30/10/2015

Candida, Colosan, Immune health, Threelac and Fivelac, Women’s health

Combating candida: a natural way to keep at bay enemy yeast

Many of us have experienced it. Tiredness or even exhaustion and, at the same time, stomach pain and unease in the digestive system. Few of us perhaps would draw a direct line between the two; many of us would probably think that a feeling of lethargy and indigestion and a more than usual amount of gassiness occurring together was a coincidence. But there’s a good chance they’re not. There’s a good chance we may be experiencing the effects of candida overgrowth.

Candida albicans is a single-celled organism that likes to live on our skin and in our digestive tract, especially our intestines. If allowed to remain in the latter unchecked the result can be candida overgrowth, which often sees the tiny yeast-like organisms create multiple different types of toxin (more than a hundred, in fact), all of which can be absorbed through the intestinal wall and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Needless to say, when this happens it can cause us harm.

Indeed, it appears that infections due to the presence of candida in our bodies are rising – estimates suggest that around 25,000 people in the United States alone develop them each year. Yet, despite this, the efficacy of medication prescribed to treat these infections is slipping as they’re becoming increasingly drug-resistant1.

Candida overgrowth – causes and symptoms

Naturally, for people who manage good, balanced diets, exercise regularly and get an appropriate amount of rest, intestinal issues don’t tend to crop up very often and candida overgrowth doesn’t often affect them. This is because their candida levels are successfully regulated by their immune systems and the presence of other microbes (‘good bacteria’) in their digestive systems.

So it’s when somebody’s immune system becomes suppressed that candida over-grows, causing an imbalance in the intestines and, as mentioned, enabling it to spread elsewhere in the body2. In addition to poor diets (with an overabundance of carbohydrates and high sugars), the onset of diabetes, stress, pregnancy and even the use of antibiotics and birth control medication can help cause candida overgrowth3. Symptoms sufferers may experience commonly include abdominal pains, indigestion and excessive gas; irritability, tiredness and trouble concentrating; anxiety and mood swings; cravings for sugars and breads; skin infections, eczema, psoriasis and acne; and oral or vaginal thrush4.

Treatment suggestions

So what can we do about it if too much candida’s taken up residence in our bowels and is spreading to other parts of our bodies? If traditional medication is proving less and less effective a weapon to fight its overgrowth, what can we turn to?

Some experts have recommended consuming lavender oil, colloidal silver or garlic; however, research for these natural remedies have so far proved rather inconclusive. For many experts, the smart money’s instead on supplements for candida, not least because they contain naturally-derived ingredients (indeed, research has suggested that for sufferers from thrush who’ve undergone repeat treatment from antibiotics but still experience a recurrence of symptoms, probiotics can be very helpful5).

And, at The Finchley Clinic, we have many supplements available that we recommend trying to combat candida – it goes without saying that, of course, some may work better for some people than others, but we highly recommend all of the following:

Threelac

 

References:

1 Hickman, M. A. et al. “The ‘obligate diploid’ Candida albicans forms mating-competent haploids”. Nature. 494.

2 O’Meara, T. R. et al. “Global analysis of fungal morphology exposes mechanisms of host cell escape”. Nature Communications. 6 (6741).

3 Ecandidacom. (2016). Ecandidacom. Retrieved 4 July, 2016, from http://www.ecandida.com/candida-albicans

4 Ghthealthcom. (2016). Ghthealthcom. Retrieved 4 July, 2016, from http://www.ghthealth.com

5 Richardson, A. “Natural remedies for the treatment and prevention of vaginal thrush infection”. bodykind blog. 05/082009.