You may know Vitamin B2 as the ‘energy vitamin’. That moniker, it seems, is well deserved, given it’s a nutrient that’s absolutely essential to the human body’s process that generates energy. Yet, B12 is also an essential nutrient for a whole host of other bodily functions – as well as being a cofactor and catalyst ‘helper’ compound in specific enzymatic processes.

Also referred to as cobalamin, owing to it comprising cobalt in its molecular structure, B12 is usually derived from food (via the likes of fish and eggs), which is crucial because the human body itself can’t manufacture this nutrient (which boasts the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins). And that becomes an even more significant fact if you struggle to get enough B12 from your diet; it’s crucial you gain it from other means – in short, via supplementation.

B12’s four different forms

Should you wish to boost your body’s B12 levels either through diet or supplementation, it’s important to be aware there are different forms of B12; four of them, to be precise. And each is, indeed, subtly different with specific characteristics:

• Methylcobalamin – the most bioavailable form of B12, this one is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier seamlessly, ensuring its importance in protecting brain and nerve cells; also crucial for converting homocysteine into methionine (be aware: too much homocysteine in the body may contribute to several health conditions)

• Adenosylcobalamin – otherwise known as 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, this form of B12 is a naturally occurring one but unstable

• Hydroxocobalamin – also referred to vitamin B12a, it’s naturally created by bacteria, can be found in many foods and is converted into methylcobalamin in the body; commonly used in B12 shots

• Cyanocobalamin – the lab-synthesised version of B12, ensuring it crops up in a lot of supplements owing to the fact it’s cheap to produce and sell, but it’s far from the best and, ultimately, may not be good for you. Our advice? Stay away from it.

What does B12 do for you?

So, in more specific terms then, why is Vitamin B12 so important? So long as you’re not choosing to consume cyanocobalamin, why’s it such a good idea to boost your levels of this particular vitamin? In more detail then, B12 plays critical roles in the body in terms of:

• Boosting energy and supporting metabolism – B12 is important for the body’s Krebs cycle (the process that generates energy) because it’s critical in breaking-down glucose sugars; moreover, it aids the body to process fat, which means too little B12 consumption can lead to too little fat in the body and high blood sugar levels

• Brain health – important for memory, B12’s critical for good brain health; a deficiency could result in impaired cognitive function and memory loss, in addition to impaired brain and nerve function thanks to decreased production and maintenance of the free radical/ toxin-combatting substance myelin

• Normalising mood – suffering from an unhappy mood? It could actually be because you’re deficient in B12; research suggests good, reputable B12 supplements might help normalise mood. Also, B12’s needed for both generating and releasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin and melatonin).

• Cardiovascular health – too little B12 in the body may contribute to heart conditions, such as macrocytosis (which sees red blood cells become enlarged and reduce haemoglobin in the blood, leading to a form of anaemia and, thus, potentially poor circulation and increased risk of heart disease and stroke)

• Bone health – again, B12 deficiency could lead to trouble, specifically here in the likes of elevated homocysteine, which impacts on bone density and cell formation to such a degree it drives up the risk of bone fracture in those of a certain age; in which case, experts are of the opinion that B12 levels in elderly people ought to be periodically checked to help ascertain bone health status

• Preventing severe illness – should too little intake of B12 result in compromising gene expression in the body, it could be very bad news; this is because the ‘recipe’ of DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid) become changed, ensuring unhealthy cells grow abnormally and too rapidly. This proliferation of unhealthy cells in the body can be prevented, it appears, by way of B12 combined with Vitamins B6 and B9 (folate).

Vitamin B12 supplements

As noted above, unfortunately, it’s all too easy to find it difficult to get enough B12 via diet alone. Indeed, older people with certain health conditions may struggle, in particular, owing to malabsorption issues. In which case, your best bet is to fall back on a daily supplement for your B12 needs – and a fantastic, new offering (available through us at The Finchley Clinic) is B12 Tri-Blend (2oz).

This product comes so highly recommended because it’s a vegan-friendly formula that comprises not one, not two; but all three of the best forms of B12: methylcobalamin (60%), adenosylcobalamin (20%) and hydroxycobalamin (20%). Moreover, being the most pure, active, bioavailable coenzyme form of B12, methylcobalamin (or methylated B12), when paired with adenosylcobalamin (B12’s other coenzyme form), becomes the most potent B12 combination available. So, frankly, why settle for anything less when it comes to getting the Vitamin B12 your body needs?

Regular Finchley Clinic customers – and, especially, regular readers of this blog – will surely be aware of the high esteem in which we hold the Global Health Trax (GHT) probiotic supplements, Threelac and Fivelac.

For many years, we’ve trumpeted and met with much agreement from our loyal customers over the fantastic merits of these two products. And yet, we’re happy to announce, there’s a new contender in town for their collective crown in the probiotic supplement stakes.

Taking after its forebears, GHT’s new offering, Sevenlac, comprises several probiotic strains (you guessed it; seven), suggesting that it *could* be an improvement on both Threelac (with its three strains) and Fivelac (with its five). Not least because Sevenlac offers up all five of Fivelac’s strains and then an extra two – one of which is the brand new Lactobacillus johnsonii train, of which GHT has high hopes, claiming it has ‘provocative possibilities’, including potentially ‘positive effects on the immune system’

Sevenlac probiotic strains

To be clear, then; according to GHT, Sevenlac’s proprietary formula contains the following active probiotic strains:

• Bacillus coagulans – may help control intermittent digestion/ stomach issues
• Bacillus subtilis – may crowd out ‘bad bacteria’ in the gut
• Enterococcus faecalis – boosts the gut levels of a major genus within the lactic acid bacteria group; one that naturally inhabits the digestive tract
• Lactobacillus acidophilus – breaks down nutrients in the gut to produce the likes of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, thereby helping create an optimal intestinal flora
• Bifidobacterium longum – may aid the smooth running of the digestive system
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus – may prevent and treat cases of diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis
• Lactobacillus johnsonii – in positively affecting the immune system, this new probiotic strain may inhibit the growth of pathogenic bad bacteria and the production of gastrin (reducing acidity in the gut).

What might Sevenlac do for you?

If you’re not that familiar with probiotics and what’s so good about them, let’s take a quick look at why they can contribute so effectively to gut health and, therefore, to overall health – and so why Sevenlac may be a good supplement to try. The fact is that, by significantly boosting the levels of ‘good bacteria’ with all their health-giving properties in the intestinal tract, a course of naturally-derived probiotics (like Threelac, Fivelac or indeed Sevenlac) is terrific for repopulating your gut’s intestinal flora in the most positive way possible.

That’s to say, loading up your gut with these good bacteria can effectively crowd out the aforementioned pathogenic bad bacteria (which can cause microbial infection via yeast overgrowth and affect the efficacy of the immune system); thereby tipping the gut’s bacteria balance back in the direction it should be for healthy living.

Better than Threelac and Fivelac?

Not only does Sevenlac comprise seven different probiotic strains – three of which are to be found in Threelac and five in Fivelac – we think it’s also reasonable to assume that, as this new product has been entirely developed and released by GHT, it will contain the same sort of numbers of each of its live bacteria as the previous two GHT supplements do. That means that Sevenlac most likely comprises around 500 million of each of its seven live bacteria, ensuring there’s something like a total 3.5 billion live bacteria in each Sevenlac sachet available from us.

Now, if you know anything about probiotics, you may conclude this isn’t a particularly high count of live bacteria for a modern probiotic product to offer. Yet, like GHT, we at The Finchley Clinic don’t believe however billion live bacteria a probiotic offers a customer is necessarily as important as other (so-called) experts do. We believe it’s surely much more important what specific probiotic strains a supplement contains and, therefore, what an overall supplement can do for an individual. So, if Sevenlac’s seven strains prove to be collectively better for a customer’s gut health than Threelac’s three or Fivelac’s five, then clearly that’s significant.

Moreover, unlike Threelac and Fivelac, Sevenlac doesn’t contain canola oil; an oil ingredient that we don’t believe offers the finest health benefits. Instead, it comprises sunflower oil, which we feel is a better bet from a health-giving perspective.

So, to conclude, if you’ve got on well with Threelac and/ or Fivelac before now and you’re curious about Sevenlac (and, even if you’ve not tried either of its predecessor products but feel it sounds like it could do positive work for you), our advice is to give Sevenlac a go and see what you think. And be sure to let us know, too, we’d love to hear your feedback – we’re currently offering customers a 60-day price-back guarantee if they’re not entirely satisfied with this new probiotic product.

Enormously nutritious and comprising high levels of essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antibodies, colostrum is the naturally-occurring fluid that promotes growth and health in infants and newly-born animals. Yet, so potent and nutritious is it, research shows that, when consumed in supplement form by adults, it may also promote immunity, help fight infections and improve gut health. And that’s why, at The Finchley Clinic, we’re more than happy to introduce you to Colostrum Organic (120 capsules).

Colostrum Organic – a highly nutritious product

To be precise, colostrum is a milky fluid released by mammal mothers who’ve just given birth, but before production of their breast milk has begun. So, it’s a critically significant nutrient source for just-delivered infants (of all mammal species; not least human babies); promoting, as it does, growth and helping staving off/ fight potential infant diseases. And yet, as noted, it’s also entirely safe and acceptable to be consumed by human adults, years after infanthood.

Now, for its part, Colostrum Organic is a totally organically-sourced form of colostrum; being derived from EU bovine herds and very similar to human colostrum. Each and every batch of the product is tested, so it can be declared free of harmful hormones, antibiotics and pesticides ahead of being sold. It’s rich in a balanced blend of disease-fighting proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, growth hormones, vitamins (among them Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E), minerals (calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc) and digestive enzymes.

Immune factors and growth factors – and more

Importantly, when it comes to this colostrum supplement, you’ll find that, among its more-than 90 components are nutrients that can be grouped together in two different classes: immune factors and growth factors. Immune factors have been shown to help the body fight off harmful invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus. And, in Colostrum Organic, their work is enhanced by its plentiful antibodies, which like nothing more than to get involved in the body’s immune response to infections, including those caused by bacteria and viruses; especially the antibodies IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Conversely, once absorbed into the body, growth factors become busy in the building and restoration work of bone, muscle, nerve tissue, connective tissue, skin and cartilage; as well as helping to increase lean muscle, burn fat for fuel and aiding wound-healing. Colostrum Organic is especially rich in two growth factors, the insulin-like, protein-based hormones that are growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2).

Health benefits of Colostrum Organic

So, to be more specific, Colostrum Organic may well:

• Boost immunity – thanks to its high concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG, the supplement offers impressive immunity-boosting credentials; in fact, a study discovered that, taken daily, a colostrum supplement increased the IgA antibodies in distance runners’ saliva by 79%, compared to baseline levels, while researchers believe IgA levels in saliva may boost immunity and improve the body’s capacity to battle upper respiratory tract infections
• Prevent/ treat diarrhoea – Colostrum Organic’s blend of antibodies, as well as the protein lactoferrin, may well help prevent diarrhoea, when it’s associated with bacterial and viral infections; a study of adults suffering with diarrhoea, when associated with HIV, revealed that 100 grams of colostrum each day (along with traditional anti-diarrhoeal medications) decreased stool frequency 21% more than traditional medications did, on their own.

Moreover, colostrum is often considered hyperimmune, implying it may be effective in treating infections in humans, including those caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), candida, cryptosporidia, H pylori rotavirus, salmonella, Shigella dysenteriae bacteria, staphylococcus and streptococcus.

• Improve gut health – Colostrum Organic, too, may help strengthen the linings of your gut and battle infections there (most likely thanks to both its growth factors and lactoferrin); studies show that, in addition to strengthening the gut wall, it may stimulate growth of intestinal cells and help prevent intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), a condition that sees gut particles leak out into the rest of the body.

So, rich in disease-fighting compounds, Colostrum Organic may well improve resistance to viruses and auto-immune disorders; help strengthen your immune system; support cardiovascular function; support healing of injured tissue (and lead to softer skin and reduce wrinkles); increase muscle tone; boost energy (and enhance strength and stamina during exercise); improve mental alertness and positive mood; fight infections that could cause diarrhoea; and improve gut health.

In which case, this potent supplement may well be especially helpful if you have a specific condition, infection or gut inflammation – and, even if you don’t, it may well do you a great deal of good.

It may have turned out to be a challenging year but summer’s here, at least. And yet, for some, summer brings with it natural challenges each and every year. While many are enjoying being outdoors and enjoying all manner of activities in the sun, others find themselves trying to mitigate the effects on their lives of seasonal allergies; most commonly, of course, hay fever and the allergic reactions it brings due to a dramatic increase in pollen.

It’s estimated that as many as 13 million people in the UK are hay fever sufferers – that’s almost one fifth of the country’s entire population – while around 35 million Americans put up with seasonal allergies every year (just over 10% of the total US population). So, make no mistake; environmental allergies and, with them, symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throats and a general foggy lethargy, are a big deal for many people.

Preventing seasonal allergies – and their symptoms

As you’re no doubt aware, many sufferers of seasonal allergies simply reach for temporary medication to mitigate the symptoms they bring. However, finding exactly the right treatment for you as an individual is far from an exact science – indeed, from one year to the next, millions never really come across a course of tablets (or other medication) that satisfactorily does the trick in these spring and summer months.

So, is there another way? Well, have you ever considered a far more natural approach to trying to reduce the symptoms of hay fever and similar seasonal allergies – and even preventing their occurrence, in the first place? Here are some ideas and tips you might want to try if the warmer, drier weather of May, June and July can make your life a misery:

• Improve your diet – it may seem unlikely at first, but an improved diet can help ward off allergies and that’s because the healthier your body is, the better capable its immune system is to counter the everyday allergies it encounters; indeed, scientific research on the Greek island of Crete concluded that nasal allergies barely existed there, seemingly because native islanders’ diets are focused around fatty acid-packed fish, cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fruits and vegetables, ensuring the diet’s antioxidant-rich and great for supporting the health of the upper respiratory tract
• Purify your home and remove your carpets – tackling your living environment and trying to rid it of pollen and mites is another very important step in the battle to keep seasonal allergy symptoms in check; to do so, you might consider investing in an air purification system (with a UV/ negative ion filter) and, considering carpets naturally retain pollen, dust and pet dander, replace them with non-toxic hardwood/ cork flooring
• Go for organic bedding – the same goes for your home’s bedding; you’re highly advised to purify your haven of rest by purchasing a high-quality, allergy-free cover for your mattresses and pillows and to wash your bedding once a week to kill and, thus, prevent the accumulation of dust mites
• Use organic cleaning products – if you’re prone to allergies, then you might want to re-think the cleaning products you use, given the chemicals and fumes from many supermarket-purchased cleaning agents can help trigger allergic reactions, especially in the spring and summer months; a better bet, then, is to plump for non-toxic, organic cleaning products
• Try taking oregano oil – for many people, it seems that oregano oil contributes to feeling better when suffering from the aforementioned (and widely known) common symptoms of seasonal allergies; thanks to its ability to reduce histamine levels in the blood, the oil is liable to combat allergic reactions, including the likes of skin swelling
• Get mould out of your home and office – sure, pollen’s an obvious cause of spring/ summer allergies but mould plays its role too; an increase in heat in conjunction with a rise in humidity tends to see mould form in indoor working and living spaces, so a good idea is to invest in a high-quality dehumidifier in an effort to prevent mould from forming in the first place.

Hay fever supplements

In addition to trying one – or, indeed, all – of the above suggestions, there is another course of action open to you in the fight against seasonal allergies (should you want to avoid relying on the likes of antihistamine medication); that’s to go the natural supplement route.

Here, at The Finchley Clinic, we’ve put together a handy kit of high-quality, entirely naturally-sourced supplements that, yes, might just help you get your sanity back this spring/ summer, in this most trying of years for so many. The Hayfever ‘Get Your Sanity Back’ Kit consists of:

• Allertrex– a blend of powerful botanical ingredients and essential oils that support normal function and cleansing of the lungs, sinuses and respiratory tract
• HistX– combines Vitamin C and Quercetin in a liposomal form, ensuring almost perfect absorption as a result of the unique and industry leading liposomal process; together, Liposomal Quercetin and Vitamin C make for an amazing one-two in battling allergies and inflammation, anywhere in the body
• OptiBac Probiotics For Daily Wellbeing Extra Strength– contains the potent probiotics L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis Bi-04; a recent clinical trial has shown this specific probiotic combination reduced the symptoms of nasal irritation in birch tree pollen sufferers.

Feeling more tired than usual? Low on energy? It’s a common thing, of course, but sometimes in our hectic modern world, it’s easy to overlook what we can – and ought – to do to recharge our body’s batteries correctly instead of simply going at the same ‘speed’ all the time. What ought we be putting time aside for to help recharge and improve our energy levels? The answer includes behaviours, activities, diet and – possibly – energy-boosting supplements…

Tips to boost your energy

So, how to help top up your energy levels when they’re low? The following are essential tips:

• Get proper rest – adequate physical rest (and mental rest; see below) is absolutely critical for revitalising the body and ensuring it’s able to provide you consistent energy
• Sleep hygiene – tied up with rest is, of course, decent sleep, which is crucial for replenishing energy; inevitably, sleep deprivation and insomnia have detrimental effects on energy levels (if you are suffering from the latter, it’s worth your time looking into the different ways to address it)
• De-stress – again, related to rest and sleep, de-stressing at the end of the day or, rather, achieving both physical and mental relaxation is important; for instance, you might want to try meditation
• Physical exercise – it may sound counter-intuitive (going out walking, running, cycling and so on to boost your energy levels), but keeping fit is important for good physical and mental health and ensuring your body is working as it should, therefore, in turn, ensuring the body is able to naturally replenish its energy levels.

Dietary tips for increasing energy levels

While seeking to achieve the right level of rest, relaxation, sleep and exercise, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that includes energy-boosting nutrients is equally as important. That doesn’t mean reaching for a highly-sugared energy drink every time your energy’s waning – instead, you’re advised to eat foods comprising nutrients whose ingredients include minerals, nutrients and vitamins that deliver high-quality, sustainable energy. The following are all good examples:

• Beetroot and beetroot juice – terrific for folate (Vitamin B9), manganese and Vitamin C, beetroot contains the antioxidant phytonutrients that are betalains, ensuring they’re great for detoxing; energy-wise, it’s been found that, among athletes’ severe-intensity exercise, consumption of beetroot juice supplements helped increase stamina and energy by as much as 15%
• Nuts – specifically, almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are rich in good protein and the bioavailable chemicals that are carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and phytosterols; all of which aid physical and mental health and so, in turn, support energy levels
• Quinoa – a gluten-free grain packed full of protein, fatty acids, antioxidants and amino acids (lysine, methionine and cysteine), as well as the minerals folate, magnesium and manganese, quinoa’s brilliant for energy support
• Spinach – an undoubted superfood, this green vegetable is chock-full of vitamins (A, C and K) and excellent nutrients, including calcium, iron, potassium and a highly bioavailable form of magnesium; the latter of which, studies have concluded, plays a role in more than 300 metabolic functions, such as generation and storage of cellular energy
• Sweet potatoes – carbohydrate-lovers are in luck because these vegetables are a great low-glycaemic energy-driving option, which means they can help reduce blood sugar levels, weight and the risks of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes; they’re also rich in manganese, which aids in the breaking down of other nutrients in the body to generate energy
• Chocolate – in mentioning chocolate here, we’re not suggesting sweetened chocolate bars, but dark chocolate; the cocoa in the latter comprises flavonoids that aid blood flow in the body, as well as brain function, thereby supporting mood management and balancing energy
• Coffee – finally, while it’s widely known consuming too much coffee can have negative effects on the body, it makes it into our energy-supplying good books thanks to the rapid energy boost and increased mental alertness that caffeine can deliver, as well as the fact it’s full of antioxidants.

It may surprise you to learn, too, that those who enjoy drinking coffee also tend to enjoy longer-term energy, improved mood and generally better health, owing to its ability to help fend off cellular degeneration.

Energy supplements

Now, while it’s easy to buy a jar of coffee or a bar of dark chocolate, some may find it less easy, on a regular basis, getting hold of some of the other dietary suggestions mentioned above (and other energy-boosting foods you may research yourself). In which case, you might want to look at supplement options; check out the ‘Energy Boosters’ product page here at The Finchley Clinic – all of our offerings are derived from entirely natural sources and come well-recommended.

Indeed, among them you might be interested in the NADH and PQQ Mitochondrial Support Kit, which combines NADH Delayed Release capsules (20mg) with PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) capsules (20mg). The active coenzyme form of Vitamin B3, NADH provides energy to the brain, nerves, muscles and the heart; not least because it’s is absolutely crucial to the Krebs cycle, which occurs in all cells in order to release stored energy. For its part, like NADH, PQQ is an enzyme cofactor that promotes the growth of mitochondria in cells, ensuring it’s also crucial to energy generation and release. In addition to helping boost energy levels and stamina, it’s a powerful antioxidant, too, and may improve the quality and duration of sleep.

Like it or not, we all age. Indeed, one of the burdens of ageing is that, due in part to the physical and chemical changes that occur in our bodies, our memory-making and memory-recall usually slow down.

Yet, generally speaking, however old you are and whatever your health, there are things you can do to support your memory – or, more specifically, to support the parts of your brain that concern themselves with creating, storing and recalling memory. So, it’s never too late to try, then – but just what should you try…?

A good night’s sleep

Thanks to sleeping, the brain consolidates and stores the memories of that day and recent days. Without good sleep over a consistent, prolonged period, memory issues and perhaps even more serious brain problems can result.

In fact, research suggests that just one good night’s sleep – or even a nap – makes a difference when it comes to improving memory-recall of information and details. So, trying to achieve a seven-to-nine-hour, nightly sleep is highly recommended, as is keeping to a general sleep schedule and limiting caffeine drinks, as the day progresses.

Get your diet right

What’s a particularly healthy diet for preserving memory? Well, foods that are rich in antioxidants ought to do the trick; that means, in general terms, brightly and boldly coloured fruits and vegetables. Bear in mind that good nutrition (ideally here, a Mediterranean-style plant-centric diet, featuring whole grains and omega-3 fatty acid-packed olive oil) is great for enhancing brain cells, in order to support brain function and boosting cognitive abilities and memory formation and recall.

Eating plenty of fruit and veg has been identified as lowering the risk of memory loss and maybe even of dementia, while a diet focused around lots of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates is liable to lead to shrinkage of the brain’s area where short-term memories are stored.

Try to de-stress

Modern life is stressful, we all know that; yet getting pulled this way and that in life does your ability to form and retain memories no good. Regular production and use of stress hormones by your body damages the brain’s cells and, specifically, the part of that organ where memories are created, the hippocampus. And that’s to say nothing of what the stress hormone cortisol can do to your working memory.

So, try to achieve that work-life balance; even if it proves elusive you can but try for your memory’s – and your memories’ – sake. In addition to having fun and rest when you can, you might give meditating a go.

Lower your cholesterol and get exercise

Cholesterol is often bad news in the body, as you’re probably well aware; yet, did you know the presence of this natural fat in your blood and cells is actual important for brain health? There is a caveat here, though – too much ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol can harm the forming and retention of memory, thanks to its clogging up arteries and blood vessels, therefore, restricting blood flow to and in the brain. Indeed, studies have shown high cholesterol might be linked to mild cognitive impairment and age-related memory loss.

Often, advice to reduce your cholesterol is accompanied by advice to exercise – and it’s no different here. And that’s because good, regular exercise encourages the brain to release specific chemicals (‘growth factors’) that support its cells, as well as stimulating the growth of new brain cells and connecting them with each another.

And exercise your brain muscles, too

It’s a good idea to think of your memory as a muscle – as people age, they’re often advised to ‘exercise’ their mind. And that’s because performing mental tasks that require you to store and recall details in your bonce serves only to strengthen memory. It’s even believed that ‘engaging your brain’ can boost the volume of cells in the memory-centred hippocampus. Either way, research suggests that doing just a quarter-of-an-hour of brain-training, four or more days a week, improves short-term memory and problem-solving skills.

Memory health supplements

Finally, in addition to an improved diet and sleep, lowering cholesterol levels and exercising your mind and body, you can also turn to recommended, naturally-derived supplements to help your memory as you get older. At The Finchley Clinic, we’ve several different memory-aiding supplements in stock – here are three excellent examples:

Liposomal Carnosine (250ml) – a particularly powerful antioxidant that may help combat memory concerns among ageing people

B12 Tri-blend (2oz) – a great source of the crucial Vitamin B12, which may support a healthy sleep-wake cycle; research suggests B12 deficiency could lead to brain shrinkage and there is a possibility, too, it might be linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Brain Nutrients (180 capsules) – a blend of key vitamins, phospholipids and amino acids to optimise brain function, concentration, memory and learning.

Do you know how to keep up your energy levels? A sensible, balanced diet with good nutrients; enough sleep and rest; as well as a decent amount of exercise, right? Absolutely. But there’s one critical component missing off that list – a healthy and well-functioning thyroid.

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck and, essentially, concerns itself with leading the human body’s endocrine system – a group of glands, all of which produce hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism and ensure it operates properly. The thyroid, itself then, produces two specific hormones (T3 and T4) that help keep a person’s energy levels where they should be. However, as with any part of the body, the thyroid isn’t in the habit of turning down a helping hand; so how can you support your thyroid in doing its essential work?

Try to avoid fluoride-featuring water

The trouble comes with so-called endocrine disruptors; chemicals and substances that we encounter in everyday life thanks to the environments of the modern world. It’s almost impossible to avoid all harmful things in our environment as we live daily life, but when it comes to endocrine disruptors, there are a few things you can do to tip the scales in your favour.

The chemical element fluoride is, nowadays, recognised as an endocrine disruptor because it affects normal endocrine function – and, frankly, that’s hardly surprising, considering it was once regularly prescribed for sufferers of an overactive thyroid. It’s believed to take no more than 2-5 mg of fluoride each day, over several weeks, to reduce thyroid function – that’s definitely within the range of fluoride content of many drinking water supplies. In which case, opting to drink fluoride-free water instead may lower your chances of suffering from an underactive thyroid by up to 30 percent.

Try to live without gluten

Don’t doubt it, a gluten-rich diet isn’t welcomed by your thyroid. The trouble is gluten comes complete with gliadin, a protein that the immune system considers is invasive (since gliadin doesn’t occur naturally in the body). So, for those with a gluten intolerance, the immune system’s antibodies end up honing in on gliadin… or, at least, they think they are. What they’re really going after, though, is an enzyme called transglutaminase that they mistake for gliadin; an enzyme that’s in high volume in the thyroid – and this means the antibodies effectively end up attacking the thyroid! Bad news, indeed. Even more reason, then, for those with a gluten intolerance to avoid gluten.

Try to enrich your diet with great nutrients

Like your body, in general, your thyroid needs to be fed – and that means consuming enough of exactly the nutrients in needs; namely the chemical elements iodine and selenium. Why? Well, in order for this gland to produce T3 and T4, it requires iodine. Therefore, making sure your diet’s rich in iodine – or boosting your body’s levels of that element via an iodine-featuring supplement – is a must.

For its part, selenium is essential for effective operation of several processes in the human body (cellular repair, DNA synthesis and reproduction, to name just three), but of all areas of the body, it’s in the thyroid where this trace element is most concentrated – so it can carry out its critical job in metabolism and hormone synthesis. Many people get the selenium they need from food sources. So, what foods to look to for topping up your selenium levels? Well, specific breads, Brazil nuts, grains and spinach are all good options.

The Thyroid Health Kit

And yet, too much of the time, some will struggle to enrich their diet with foods (including non-gluten options and, ideally, non-fluoride water) to get the nutrients and exclude the endocrine disruptors necessary to keep their thyroid happy and healthy. What this calls for then is well-reviewed, naturally-derived, thyroid health supplements – and, as far as we’re concerned, that means the Thyroid Health Kit; available through us at The Finchley Clinic.

Convenient, easy-to-use, and affordable, the Thyroid Health Kit comes complete with:

• B12 Tri-blend – a mixture of the three most bioactive forms of Vitamin B12 (sufferers of an underactive thyroid are often deficient in this vitamin)
• Selenium –​​​​​​​ in addition to its need for producing of T3 and T4, selenium is required to help produce antioxidant enzymes to protect the thyroid
• Detoxadine – an organic, deep-earth sourced nascent iodine that nourishes the thyroid and encourages normal hormone balance.

To sum up, the Thyroid Health Kit should help you to:

• Remain energised – good energy means your thyroid isn’t sluggish and so works just as it should, balancing your body’s energy levels
• Sleep well – poor energy means your sleep cycles can become irregular, so you don’t wake up rested and ready for the day ahead
• Stay focused and concentrate – an unhealthy thyroid can coincide with suffering from brain fog; aiding your thyroid health should help you to keep focused
• Keep your metabolism on track – the thyroid’s hormones are responsible for regulating your metabolism and, therefore, your metabolic output; nobody can really expect to function properly in day-to-day life without a reliable and efficient metabolism.

As rules of thumb go, this one’s unequivocal – probiotics are good for everyone. And that definitely includes women during and after pregnancy. Indeed, a specific study (of 341 subjects) has proved not just that probiotics are safe for women at this point in their lives, but also that they support overall health in pregnant women.

And that’s because when they’re consumed, probiotics – or ‘friendly’ bacteria (the most common being Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) – take root in the digestive tract, where they play a critical role in enhancing digestion and in many other of the body’s processes. And research, too, has proved that, when digested, probiotics remain in the digestive tract; therefore, they won’t be passed on to mother’s unborn baby – only the good health they instil in mum will be passed on to her baby.

The importance of probiotics for women

Probiotics certainly are important for women, then, but is there a specific need for women to take probiotics over men? Well, not necessarily; but there’s no doubt women do need probiotics – especially given the fact research suggests a woman will more likely suffer from a gastrointestinal disorder than a man.

Indeed, studies have found that when women consume probiotics it not only coincides with gastrointestinal relief, but also easier bowel movements. Moreover, it could be that a regular course of probiotic supplements for a woman will reduce the likelihood of her experiencing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis.

It ought to be noted too that, in general, probiotics aid the body in absorbing major nutrients like iron, as well as enhance immunity and, it’s believed, they may also help establish balanced moods and boost thinking and memory.

But why take probiotics during and after pregnancy?

Of course, when a woman becomes pregnant, she ought to double-check any food and drink she buys and plans to consume, lest it harm her and her baby. So, before starting a course of probiotic supplements when she’s ‘with child’, she’s best advised to follow the advice of her GP or most relevant doctor. Yet, in spite of these necessarily sensible precautions, it’s a fact that while probiotics are very beneficial to any woman, they’re arguably even more beneficial to a woman when she’s pregnant.

Consider this; some women can suffer with constipation in the months leading up to giving birth – and this is where that the right probiotics (Bifidobacterium) can be a big help in softening stools and encouraging bowel movements. That said, more pregnant women tend to suffer from the opposite disturbance, diarrhoea, which is happily something that, maybe surprisingly, probiotics can help with, too. How so? Well, a constant course of them will help regulate digestion; therefore, slowing food’s passage through the digestive system and ensuring improved absorption of nutrients – critical for both mother and baby.

A great probiotic choice during – and after – pregnancy

As far as we’re concerned at The Finchley Clinic, the probiotic supplement we advise for both mothers during and straight after pregnancy is Optibac Probiotics for Babies and Children. Why? Well, as it’s a blend of probiotics and prebiotics (including acidophilus, B. infantis and Bifidum), it’s a product specifically designed to boost digestive health and the natural defences of both mothers and their babies during the last trimester and, following birth, during the breastfeeding phase.

But that’s not all; this supplement’s also ideal for children themselves – from six months-old all the way up to 12 years-old. Just the thing, then, to ensure little ones achieve that probiotic balance, so their bodies have the enzymes required for good digestion and for producing vitamins – and so the important nutrients in their diet (such as calcium) can be absorbed by the body; all so important during childhood’s early years.

Did you know that the most promising natural substance in your body is called NADH? Never heard of it? Well, that’s not surprising; you’re not alone – many people haven’t. To give its full name, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NADH is created in the body from the organic compound niacin, a form of Vitamin B3. And, according to research, it’s very important for a healthy, fully-functioning body.

This is down to the fact NAHD helps in the crucial process of energy production in the body’s cells – and because of this, its adherents believe it could well help sufferers with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME.

All of which means it may come as no surprise to you that one of our most popular products here at The Finchley Clinic is NADH Rapid Energy, the highly acclaimed supplement form of NADH (in addition to NADH Delayed Release Capsules).

So, why exactly does the body need NADH?

The belief that NADH is the body’s most promising natural substance is one certainly shared by Professor George Birkmayer. Surely one of the world’s foremost experts on the subject, Birkmayer is the creator of NADH Rapid Energy and he believes, along with other experts, that NADH isn’t just capable of boosting energy levels, but also of improving mental clarity, alertness, concentration and memory maintenance (some proponents of the substance also, therefore, believe it may help those living with Alzheimer’s disease).

But how might it help with these things? NADH operates in the body by reacting with the oxygen present in living cells – every one of them in the body – thus, it’s inevitably involved when cells generate energy and water (not least because one of the key ingredients of NADH is biological hydrogen, the fuel for cellular energy production.). Naturally then, this means that the more NADH a cell can call on, the more energy it can generate and so the better it can function and the longer it can live.

And, make no mistake, for the major organs of the body, if their cells can call on more – rather than less – NADH, it’s a significant thing. Boosting the levels of NADH in your body is good news, indeed, for your lungs, liver, kidneys and, especially, your heart and brain, because it means they can draw on more energy; the very parts of the body that require the most energy.

Of course, the body itself produces its own levels of NADH, but enhancing these levels via external supplementation (courtesy of NADH Rapid Energy) helps your major organs to function as efficiently and successfully as they can.

How might NADH help with chronic fatigue syndrome?

This topic has generated a lot of debate among experts, but adherents of NADH claim it may be beneficial to sufferers of ME/ CFS because:

• NADH helps the conversion of food (glucose) into energy in cells via the cellular respiration process, which sees glucose turned into adenosine triphosphate (ATP); some studies have found that ME/ CFS results in low levels of ATP
• With research having also shown that NADH is capable of stimulating brain function, experts believe this means the substance may help lessen ME/ CFS-related cognitive dysfunction
• Thanks to NADH restoring mitochondria function in the body, it’s believed the substance may be able to reduce ME/CFS-caused fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome may well contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction)
• Experts also claim NADH has the capacity to help the brain generate neurotransmitters (chemical messengers; such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine), which are critical in shaping mood and influencing cognitive function.

In terms of cognitive function, in particular, one of several studies has focused on the combined use of NADH plus coenzyme Q10 (coQ-10) among ME/ CFS sufferers; it found that among a group of 73 women, subjects reported better physical and cognitive function when taking NADH and CoQ-10 supplements than when taking a placebo. Additionally, the combined use of the two substances improved ATP concentration in the subjects’ bloodstreams.

Similarly, another study has discovered that, again, when NADH and CoQ-10 were combined, they achieved successful results in reducing post-exertional malaise, one of the major ME/ CFS symptoms. Meanwhile, in reviewing several studies, the publication BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine came to the conclusion that, along with magnesium, NADH is the only substance, taken in supplement form, to result in an improvement in ME/ CFS symptoms.

Can you boost NADH in the body through food?

The answer to this question is yes; for the most part, NADH can be found in the muscle tissue of fish, some meats, such as poultry, and foods featuring yeast. However, naturally, that isn’t much help for those with certain diets, not least vegetarians and vegans, Moreover, it’s important to note there’s little consensus on whether it’s actually possible for the body to access NADH from food effectively, as food-derived NADH may not be redistributed about the body properly. Niacin, though, which – as noted above – is the organic compound from which the body naturally forms NADH, can be absorbed from food; it occurs in the likes of asparagus, avocados, broccoli, peanuts, potatoes and oily fish.

So, what does all this point to? Well, the inevitable conclusion has to be that, to boost your body’s NADH levels, your best option is supplementation. And, without doubt, if you’re an ME/ CFS sufferer and yet to try either product, giving NADH Rapid Energy (or NADH Delayed Released Capsules) a go may well help you deal with the illness on a daily basis. Even if you’re fortunate enough not to have ME/ CFS, taking NADH as a supplement should boost the energy levels in your body’s cells, ensuring they’re better able to produce the components essential for human life and function better and live longer.

We shouldn’t take ‘old wives’ tales’ seriously, should we? Those so-called remedies that keep us clear of getting sick and cure us of ills? We should put our faith in science and evidence-based research when it comes to treatments, right? Well, in general, it’s probably a good idea to ignore hearsay and follow medical and scientific advice, yes, of course; but, having said that, there’s often no smoke without fire.

And the old wives’ tale that you should eat an orange or drink lots of orange juice when you feel the sniffles coming on… well, there’s a lot of truth in it. Why? Because oranges are packed full of Vitamin C and that very super-vitamin is fantastic for fighting colds and flu – and, beyond that, boosting your body’s immunity to bacteria and viruses. Great to know in these troubled times, surely; when we could all do with as strong an immune system as possible to fight the effects of infection.

Also referred to as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C’s a water-soluble nutrient that’s a proven antioxidant and, in part because of that fact, it plays many essential roles in the body, including supporting the immune system. But just how does it manage to do that?

How does Vitamin C boost immunity?

Let’s face it, there are a lot of people out there who believe they can supercharge their immunity – especially if they’re ill – by taking a hyper-dose of Vitamin C. In fact, a name no less prestigious as Linus Pauling, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist responsible for identifying DNA’s double helix, hailed super-doses of the super-vitamin for combating both minor and serious illnesses. So, why is taking Vitamin C such good news for your immune system and for getting over colds, flu and illnesses quicker than would otherwise be the case?

1. An awesome antioxidant

Evidence corroborates the widely held belief that Vitamin C, if taken regularly, is capable of reducing the length of time you suffer from a cold’s symptoms, by a day or even more. And this is because of its antioxidant abilities. But what does this actually mean?

Well, antioxidants can provide support to the immune system because they naturally protect the body’s cells from harmful free radicals. Plus, Vitamin C’s antioxidant abilities means it can also strengthen the immune system and guard the body from free radical damage. But it doesn’t work as an antioxidant on its own; in the body, it works hard to regenerate other significant antioxidants, including Vitamins A and E, while it happily combines with the latter to deliver a double-vitamin-pronged antioxidant defence.

Although, in terms of taking vitamin C just as a cold or flu begins to develop, in order to lessen the symptoms and stop the illness in its tracks, research results mostly suggest that daily supplementation (pre-illness, if you will) is a better bet.

2. An excellent protector of cells

When harmful bacteria and viruses find their way into the body, Vitamin C again steps up to the plate by enhancing production of white blood cells; the very cells that play such a critical role in the immune system. Moreover, the vitamin also proves it’s such an effective cell protector by helping the production of collagen (a critical component of bones, muscles, tendons, body tissues, blood vessels, skin and teeth.

And here’s another way this super-vitamin helps boost immunity – it’s collagen that forms and repairs connective tissues inside your digestive system to keep your gut healthy and strong and, of course, a healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system, given it’s in the gut where the microbiome (arguably the basis of the body’s immune defence) resides.

3. Aids the respiratory system

Evidence also points to Vitamin C being able to ease not just the severity of, but also the likelihood of, experiencing respiratory symptoms. Additionally, it appears that the more Vitamin C consumed, the more effective and efficient the body’s lungs function – not least when a person’s suffering from an illness affecting the respiratory system.

Vitamin C supplements

Now, here comes the catch with Vitamin C… unfortunately, on its own, the body doesn’t produce enough of this nutrient itself, which means you must get it from other sources. Obviously, the natural way to boost your Vitamin C levels is to seek out foods rich in it and add them to your diet; yet, as noted above, the fail-safe way to ensure your immunity benefits from a regular Vitamin C top-up is via supplementation. We stock an extensive range of naturally-derived Vitamin C supplements at The Finchley Clinic, including these popular examples:

Lipolife Liposomal Vitamin C SF Unflavoured (250ml) – offers an absorption rate eight times higher than standard oral Vitamin C supplements

Epigenar Liposomal Vitamin C (60 capsules)  – offers high bioavailability, an absorption rate of almost 100%

True Food Vitamin C (180 tablets) – a particularly gentle-on-the-stomach supplement; also contains citrus bioflavonoids, for additional immune support.