Monthly Archives: November 2016

Acid Reflux Supplements, Digestive Enzyme, Digestive Enzyme Supplements, Latero-Flora, Probiotics, Treat Acid Reflux, Vegan HCl, VeganZyme

Ease your digestion: tips to avoid acid reflux

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In some cultures, belching during or after consuming food is perfectly acceptable; a sign that you’ve enjoyed and are satisfied by a meal. The truth is that everybody’s liable to belch at some time or another, not least after eating. However, excessive belching isn’t good; not only isn’t it particularly endearing, socially speaking, but also if – in extreme cases – it’s accompanied by heartburn and even chest pain, it could signify you’re suffering from acid reflux.

A rather violent sounding disorder, acid reflux is a long-term condition that sees stomach contents (both food and gastric acids) splash back up into the oesophagus. If experienced regularly, it could irritate and even harm the oesophagus, potentially scarring this tube between the mouth and stomach and cause ulceration, swelling or haemorrhaging. Indeed, in the worst case scenario, it could put you on the road to developing oesophegael cancer.

So what measures can you take to put an end to acid reflux? In addition to seeing a health practitioner, here are some suggestions…

Balance your HCl levels

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) may sound a bit frightening, but it’s nothing to be worried about – it’s a mineral acid combing hydrogen, chlorine and water. In fact, your body naturally produces it and should you be successful in encouraging it to create more HCl, then it could prove an important step in reducing acid reflux symptoms. In order to balance your body’s HCl level you may consider switching ordinary table salt for high-quality sea salt; moreover, you may look to supplementation for help – see at the bottom of this article.

Switch up your diet

If you want to bring on acid reflux and exacerbate its symptoms, one of the best ways to go about it is to consume lots of processed foods and sugars – this, as much as (if not more than) anything else, helps to establish and maintain bacterial imbalance in the gastrointestinal system. So how instead can you generate bacterial balance? Well, obviously cut out a lot of those processed food and sugars and try to replace them with fresh, organic fruit and veg. Again, read to the end of this post for a specific probiotic supplement – available through The Finchley Clinic – that’ll augment the good work of those dietary adjustments.

Boost your enzyme intake

Enzymes are terrific for effective digestion and occur naturally in raw food; unfortunately the act of cooking these foods destroys them and all the health-providing goodness they offer – cooking anything above 47°C is enough to do so (to give you an idea, Gas Mark 3 is approximately four times as hot as that). Obviously, nobody would suggest you shouldn’t adequately cook the food you eat, but maybe you could introduce more fresh and/ or raw food into your diet (like fruit). Also, you might like to look at the supplement possibilities in this area – once more, check the bottom of this article for our suggestion.

Further tips to treat acid reflux

  • Organic apple cider vinegar – add raw organic apple cider vinegar with four ounces of purified water (resulting in a tablespoon’s worth) and consume it before each meal; it’s not idea for easing acid reflux symptoms, calming the stomach and aiding digestion in cases of low stomach acid
  • Organic aloe vera – another soother when it comes to acid reflux, aloe vera helps calm the stomach, ease diarrhoea and relieve the redness that comes not just with acid reflux, but also bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis
  • Cleanses – if you’re constantly suffering from acid reflux (and have the time and patience), it may be a good idea to try some body cleanses, such as a colon cleanse, a liver cleanse, a harmful organism cleanse and a chemical and toxic metal cleanse.

Supplements

As noted above, there are also some acid reflux supplements you might give a go to alleviate symptoms and tackle underlying digestive issues:

BioCarbonate (90 capsules) – an alkalising complex whose carbonates help to maintain the correct pH (acidity) for efficient enzymatic activity and digestion, thus may reduce hyper-acidity in the stomach.

Marshmallow Formula (60 capsules) – contains botanical marshmallow_formulaingredients which may help maintain normal intestinal permeability; it combines well with our products for candida balancing and may also be suitable for leaky gut, food intolerance and gut inflammation issues.

latero-flora-60-capsules

Latero-Flora (60 capsules) – a probiotic that helps balance the bowel with good bacteria; it nicely complements a well-balanced, natural diet thanks to safely assisting the maintenance of beneficial micro-organism colonies to improve gut health and digestive system function, thus may help to tackle the underlying causes of acid reflux.

 

Digestive Enzyme, Digestive Enzyme Supplements, Energy boosters

Shake off that wintry sluggishness through good diet, rest, exercise and probiotics

Let’s face it; it’s not unusual this time of year to feel a little lacking in energy; a wee bit done in; rather sluggish. But is it normal? Should you shrug your shoulders and put up with it? Scientifically speaking, there’s no reason why you should accept having less energy at one time of the year (when it’s colder and the days are shorter) compared to another (when it’s warmer and the days are longer) – and that’s not to mention it’s not healthy either.

Why might you feel sluggish? Well, maybe you’re working hard, not getting as satisfactory a work-life-rest balance as you might and perhaps you’re not eating as healthily or getting as much exercise as you could – the latter being very common this time of year. The following are all specific reasons you might feel sluggish – and alongside them are ideas to boost your energy.

Low hormone levels

Low levels of certain hormones can play a big role in keeping energy levels low. Why? Well, your ability to think clearly and act effectively is compromised when your body isn’t producing and, thus, not using enough testosterone, oestrogen, thyroid hormones and human-growth hormones1. To ensure your body’s creating a sufficient amount of hormones then to keep you full of beans, you should aim to live a healthy lifestyle. What does this mean? Steer clear of pesticide-affected fruit and vegetables, boost your Vitamin D intake and get exercise (yes, in the winter months), but remember to take the time to rest too.

The thyroid effect

Of all hormone deficiencies that can leave you feeling sluggish, an imbalanced thyroid may be most significant. The hormones this gland produces are necessary for almost every organ in the body. Moreover, one of the major hormones it creates and supplies is Triiodothyronine (or T3), which is directly responsible for metabolic rate and influences modest changes in energy levels and body weight. Getting enough iodine (either through diet or supplementation) is crucial to ensure the work your thyroid does is balanced effectively2, but again, so too is getting enough exercise and sleep.

Too little exercise

Wait a minute; the more we exercise the more tired we’ll get, right? Well, more physically tired for a brief time, yes; more sluggish, no. The reality is that throwing yourself into either vigorous or light exercise on a daily basis encourages body functions (not least digestion), increases the acceptance of glucose (food) by cells throughout the body and activates significant parts of the brain – those that enable us to feel better psychologically, especially when it comes to us feeling more or less energised3.

Not enough B12?

Speaking of glucose-conversion in cells, Vitamin B12 is of critical importance for this to take place in our bodies effectively. Also referred to as cobalamin, B12 plays a crucial role in the creation of red blood cells, which carry glucose (potential energy, if you will) and other nutrients to organs via the bloodstream. Unless they’re careful to manage an entirely balanced diet, vegans may find they’re not getting enough B12 from food alone (as the vitamin tends to be derived mostly from animals), thus energy supplements could prove a decisive option for sluggishness linked to B12 deficiency.

Gut matters

It’s not unusual to feel lethargic when you haven’t passed waste and feel like you need to but can’t (that is, when you’re suffering from constipation), yet if you haven’t properly digested the food you’ve eaten there’s a more specific biological reason why you might feel sluggish. Basically, it’s likely you aren’t absorbing as many energy-supplying nutrients as you need to. If your gastrointestinal system is deficient in the enzymes that help you digest food then you simply won’t get the vitamins, minerals and glucose your body requires to function as it should – inevitably then, you’ll experience low energy levels. Digestive enzyme supplements could help here4.

Reducing stress can also aid efficient digestion – when you’re in a stressed out, ‘flight or fight’ state, digestion automatically stops as your brain deems it a low priority. Rest and exercise can help lower stress levels and aid your body in reaching the opposite state, the parasympathetic (or relaxed) state that supports digestion.

Energy-boosting tips

So to reiterate, there are many things you can do to boost your energy and reduce the opportunity for you to become overly sluggish; even exhausted:

  • Diet – introduce into your daily intake organic raw vegetables, organic berries and nuts, herbs and seeds; aim to reduce the sugars you eat, but don’t cut down on calories altogether as you’ll need enough of them to burn to provide you energy
  • Exercise and sleep – try to exercise vigorously or lightly every day and look to get least 7-8 hours of sleep a night
  • Vitamin D – in addition to getting your fill of Vitamin B12, try to boost your levels of the  all-important Vitamin D by getting out in the sun (but not too much in the summer), the point being that sunlight provides Vitamin D, which can help to balance the serotonin and melatonin levels in your body, thus stabilising its circadian rhythms; in turn ensuring your energy levels are in tune with your sleep-wake cycle
  • Supplements – as noted above, supplements may help a great deal to banish that sluggish feeling; in their different ways the following (all available through The Finchley Clinic) are highly advised to augment the other lifestyle adjustments suggested:

detoxadine

Detoxadine (Iodine) (1floz) – a high-quality nascent iodine supplement (made ​​from dietary transformative iodine) that helps balance the body’s iodine levels and thus supports thyroid health.

Sublingual Unique B12 (90 veg tablets and powder) – provides an infusion of B vitamins directly into the bloodstream to nutritionally support the nervous system and aid cardiovascular function; also contains folic acid and Vitamins B6 and B7 (biotin).

veganzyme-180-capsules

VeganZyme (120 capsules) – a popular digestive enzymes supplement that can help enhance the body’s digestive process and increase the nutritional value of your food.

References

1. Tuin J., Sanders J. S., Buhl B. M., van Beek A. P. and Stegeman C. A. ‘Androgen deficiency in male patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis: a cause of fatigue and reduced health-related quality of life?’. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013; 15 (5): R117.

2. Laurberg P., Cerqueira C. and Ovesen L. ‘Iodine intake as a determinant of thyroid disorders in populations’. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb; 24 (1): 13-27. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2009.08.013.

3. Sharma A., Madaan V., and Petty F. D. ‘Exercise for Mental Health’. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2006; 8 (2): 106.

4. Balakrishnan M. and Floch M. H. ‘Prebiotics, probiotics and digestive health’. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012 Nov; 15 (6): 580-5. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328359684f.

Eye Health, Omega Fish Oil, VisualEyes

Foresight for your eyesight: nutrition and supplement ideas for eye health

It may come as no surprise to you, but research suggests sight is the sense we’re afraid of losing most. For many of us, the idea of only being able to connect with the world through speech, hearing, touch, smell and taste is a fearful one indeed – and for very good reason. Perhaps preventing sight loss should be something we’re more concerned with then. Regular sight tests play a crucial role in keeping tabs on our eye health, obviously, but we can take other, simple steps to help out our peelers.

The vast majority of us are aware of how good regular exercise is for our bodies – aiding weight control and heart health, among many other things – but, because it also helps prevent high blood pressure and thus hardening of the arteries, exercise ultimately too plays a role in keeping our eyes healthy. Better known, though, is the benefit of sun protective eyewear, of course, which can guard eyes from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light rays. However, a too rarely considered contributor to good eye health is a sensible diet – in fact fewer than 60% of people in the UK are aware of the positive effects good nutrition has on their eyesight1. So, more specifically, what don’t they know?

Sugar bad; whole foods good

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is very bad news for eyes; basically, it causes them to degenerate in later life. And it’s aided by unnecessary, excess fat in your blood, which affects the optic nerve, lens and delicate tissues of your eyes. Yet a diet that avoids such fats, cutting out then refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice and high-sugar sweets, can help2. Adopting such a diet that focuses on low-glycemic index (GI) foods is highly advisable to prevent sight loss, such as whole grain foods, whole fruits, high fibre beans and vegetables and proteins. Obviously, over consumption of sugar-rich foods also leaves one open to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a result of which can be that high blood sugar impacts on the eyes’ blood vessels, potentially causing blurred vision and, yes, eventual sight loss.

Awesome Omega-3

To be fair, Omega-3 has been long promoted as a terrific source to support eye health – and for good reason. Indeed, it’s been discovered that just one portion of Omega-3-rich, oily fish a week may reduce the chance of developing AMD by 40%3. While you let that fact settle in, consider why these polyunsaturated fatty acids are so good for the eye – they reduce glaucoma risk, aid effective drainage of intraocular fluid and support the physical strength of cell membranes. Food-wise, you’re best opting for oily fish like sardines, salmon and rainbow trout to get your Omega-3 fix.

Excellent antioxidants

Antioxidants are critical to our body’s gastrointestinal system because they help ensure stored food doesn’t deteriorate before all its goodness is removed. To that end, it’s maybe unsurprising, when you think about it, that eating foods containing antioxidant nutrients appears to lower AMD rates4. In particular, two plant-based cartenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin possess potent antioxidant properties and are commonly believed to greatly aid eye health – research suggests following a diet that features foods rich in them both cuts the risk of AMD development by 35%5. Indeed, experts suspect that lutein and zeaxanthin not only aid eyes in filtering UV light but also help defend the retina from any damage. For foods specifically rich in both nutrients, turn to green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, lettuce and broccoli.

Supplements

Finally, if the prospect of basing your diet around whole foods and high-fibre foods, green vegetables or oily fish is either not practical or fills you with dread (for whatever reason), then there is another option to help ensure good eye health via nutrition – supplementation. The following eye health supplements are available through The Finchley Clinic and, naturally, we highly recommend them all:

omega-3-fish-oil-180-caps

Omega 3 Fish Oil (180, 90 and 30 capsules) – contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); together they promote normal heart function, while DHA supports eye and brain health.

 

Complete Omegas 3:6:7:9 (240, 180, 90 and 30 capsules) – a product packed with Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 oils derived from fish, starflower, sea buckthorn and virgin olive oils (thus providing EPA, DHA and gamma-linolenic acid or GLA).

visualeyes-30-capsules

VisualEyes (30 capsules) – this supplement is rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, selenium, zinc and Vitamins A, B2, C and E.

 

References

1. Eyecare Trust ‘Healthy Eyes Report’.

2. Mares J.A. and Moeller S.M. ‘Diet and age-related macular degeneration: expanding our view’. Am J Clin Nutr. 83:4 pp. 733-734.

3. van Leeuwen R., Boekhoorn S., Vingerling J.R., et al. ‘Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of age-related macular degeneration’. JAMA. 2005; 294:3101–7.

4. SanGiovanni J. P. ‘The Relationship of Dietary Carotenoid and Vitamin A, E, and C Intake With Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Case-Control Study’. Archives of Ophthalmology. September 2007, Vol. 125 No. 9.

5. Seddon J.M., Cote J. and Rosner B. ‘Progression of age-related macular degeneration: association with dietary fat, transunsaturated fat, nuts, and fish intake’. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003; 121:1728–37.

Detoxification, Immune health, Immune products, Kidney Health, Saponin supplements, Vitamins & Minerals

Don’t Get In A Lather – Turn To Super Saponins

We are – all of us, surely – aware of the wonderful benefit of soap. It plays a pivotal role in keeping our bodies clean. But few of us are aware that some of the chief ingredients in soap are of huge benefit to our bodies when consumed – namely, helping maintain our cholesterol levels, aiding immunity and supporting the gastrointestinal system1.

These ingredients are the plant-based chemicals known as saponins. As they generate a lather when put together with water2, saponins have proved crucial in ensuring saponaria (or soapwort) – one of the many flora they occur in – has been used as a traditional soap for many centuries2. Specifically, when mixed with water, saponins – thanks to their very individual chemical structure – create a foam as well as fatty oils, in the manner of a detergent.

Health benefits

Indeed, it’s this foam-inducing, very individual chemical structure that enables saponins to provide a number of significant health benefits:

  • Cholesterol – when its levels aren’t too high, cholesterol actually plays an important role in ensuring digestion takes place because, in the digestive tract, it’s responsible for fat-soluble molecules mixing together or, in other words, it binds with bile acids, causing the latter’s excretion from the body so they’re not absorbed back into the bloodstream; research conducted on rats suggests a specific type of high cholesterol-packed saponin extract may work to decrease ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol levels, but not beneficial ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol levels3
  • Immunity – in order to fight off the harmful effects of parasites, plants readily call on their saponins and humans can do so too; a study suggests they can be effective at combating candida4, while a specific type of saponin is a good antimicrobial for the mouth5
  • Kidneys – research evidence points to saponins sourced from Terminalia arjuna (an arjun tree) providing therapeutic effects for urinary stone issues6, thus aiding good kidney health
  • Liver – it’s believed by experts that saponins also support Kupffer cells in the liver, thus helping to encourage successful detoxification
  • Blood sugar and bone density – animal studies indicate saponins aid balanced blood sugar levels and contribute to normal bone density7, 8
  • Depression – a number of preclinical reports suggest that saponins may positively contribute to treating depression9.

Saponin sources

Although saponins seem to be rarely talked about, they can be derived from more than a hundred different plants and foods, for instance:

  • Foods – beans, chickpeas, peanuts, quinoa, soy and tomatoes, among many others
  • Herbs – bupleurum root, collinsonia, ginseng, jiaogulan, osha and Tribulus terrestris.

Saponins (extracted from quillaja and yucca) are even used in fizzy drinks like root beer to ensure they have a foamy head.

Supplements

In addition to the above food and drink-based sources, you might consider any of the following saponin supplements – all available from The Finchley Clinic. Not only do they contain the chemicals, they’re also packed full of many more essential nutrients:

cumanda

Cumanda (1 floz/ 30 ml) – typically used for candida management and microbial defence, cumanda bark may support the immune system; contains anthocyanins, cyanogenic glucosides, heterosides, saponins and tannins.

suma-120-vegicaps

Suma (Brazilian Ginseng) (120 and 60 vegicaps) – features 19 amino acids, cobalt, germanium (an antioxidant), iron, magnesium, saponins, silica, zinc and the Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E and K.

yerba-mate-90-vegicaps

Yerba Mate (90 vegicaps, 100g powder and 40 and 90 teabags) – derived from the yerba mate tree in South America, this product contains magnesium, Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, 15 amino acids, antioxidants (polyphenols), plant sterols and saponins.

 

References

  1. Shi J., Arunasalam K., Yeung D., Kakuda Y., Mittal G. and Jiang Y. ‘Saponins from edible legumes: chemistry, processing, and health benefits’. J Med Food. 2004 Spring; 7(1): 67-78.
  2. Cornell University. Department of Animal Science – Plants Poisonous to Livestock.Updated 09/10/2015 14:58:48.
  3. Malinow M. R., McLaughlin P., Papworth L., Stafford C., Kohler G. O., Livingston A. L. and Cheeke P. R. ‘Effect of alfalfa saponins on intestinal cholesterol absorption in rats’. Am J Clin Nutr. 1977 Dec; 30(12): 2061-7.
  4. Coleman J. J., Okoli I., Tegos G. P., Holson E. B., Wagner F. F., Hamblin M. R. and Mylonakis E. ‘Characterization of Plant-Derived Saponin Natural Products against Candida albicans’. ACS Chem. Biol., 2010, 5 (3), pp 321–332. doi: 10.1021/cb900243b.
  5. Jyothi K. S. M. and Seshagiri M. ‘In-Vitro Activity of Saponins of Bauhinia Purpurea, Madhuca Longifolia, Celastrus Paniculatus and Semecarpus Anacardium on Selected Oral Pathogens’. J Dent (Tehran). 2012 Autumn; 9(4): 216–223.
  6. Chaudhary A., Singla S. K. and Tandon C. ‘In vitro Evaluation of Terminalia arjuna on Calcium Phosphate and Calcium Oxalate Crystallization’. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2010 May-Jun; 72(3): 340–345.
  7. Ojewole J. A. and Adewole S. O. ‘Hypoglycaemic effect of mollic acid glucoside, a 1alpha-hydroxycycloartenoid saponin extractive from Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don (Combretaceae) leaf, in rodents’. J Nat Med. 2009 Apr; 63(2): 117-23. doi: 10.1007/s11418-008-0298-0. Epub 2008 Dec 3.
  8. Abbas G., Rauf K. and Mahmood W. ‘Saponins: the phytochemical with an emerging potential for curing clinical depression’. Nat Prod Res. 2015; 29(4): 302-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.942661. Epub 2014 Jul 30.
  9. Meliani N., El Amine Dib M., Allali H. and Tabti B. ‘Hypoglycaemic effect of Berberis vulgaris L. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats’. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Dec; 1(6): 468–471.