MegaHydrate, MegaHydrate Powder

MegaHydrate: boosting hydration and eradicating free radicals from your cells

You’ve no doubt heard of the importance of making sure your body’s rich in antioxidants (via eating highly healthy foods or taking specific supplements), given their ability to combat and eradicate the hugely harmful toxins known as ‘free radicals’ from the body. But among all the ways to ensure you get a high concentration of antioxidants, what’s the actual best way to go about it?

Well, have you ever heard of MegaHydrate? This naturally-derived, non-synthetic supplement is specifically manufactured to be one of the most effective antioxidant sources on the planet – which means it’s likely to help deliver a variety of significant health benefits.

And what makes MegaHydrate so potent is that it’s more than 100 times as powerful and, thus, effective at eliminating free radicals than simple plant-derived antioxidants like the Vitamins C and E and grape seed and green tea extracts (although, of course, MegaHydrate is a naturally-derived and non-synthetic supplement itself).

Indeed, the people behind the supplement put, to a large extent, MegaHydrate’s impressiveness down to two things. First, it’s a highly-concentrated source of negatively-charged hydrogen ions, ensuring its oxidation reduction potential (ORP) is low, which means it’s pretty much guaranteed to donate electrons within the body’s cells, thus, enhancing the fight against free radicals.

And, second, there’s the fact MegaHydrate contains the chemical silica hydride; the manufacturers claim this is the only antioxidant compound in existence that doesn’t seek to become a pro-oxidant following the donating of its electrons as it does its all-important work. Instead, it merges with other hydrogen-based atoms to create a gas that’s totally harmless or with hydrogen and oxygen atoms to simply produce water. As such, in no way could it be said to contribute to oxidisation in cells, following completion of its antioxidation work; all in all, then, ensuring it’s a highly effective antioxidant.

 

MegaHydrate benefits

In more detail then, for those who purchase and use MegaHydrate regularly, it can afford them the following health benefits:

  • May help slow down ageing – owing to its advanced hydration properties, the supplement’s likely to increase moisture throughout the body, resulting in a healthier, more youthful appearance on the outside; not least for skin, hair and fingernails

 

  • Enables faster hydration in cells – the waters in streams, rivers and lakes located in high elevated areas around the globe, such as Ecuador, Pakistan and the Alpine region of Europe, are famed for their health benefits, the thinking being that these benefits are due to the specific structure of frozen glacier water; as such, MegaHydrate is specifically manufactured to mimic this water structure and reap its benefits because this ‘type’ of water doesn’t need to be absorbed into cells but seamlessly enters them, which enables rapid hydration, faster uptake of nutrients and quicker eradication of toxins in the cells

 

  • Boosts hydration among low water drinkers – as people age they tend to drink less water because they naturally lose the desire to do so as much; however, as ageing adults replace drinking water with tea, coffee, soda and energy drinks, they’re actually ensuring they became less hydrated and may encounter negative effects, something that MegaHydrate can obviously help redress

 

  • Increases oxygen content in cells – instead of driving cells together, MegaHydrate’s make-up of negative atoms pushes them apart, enabling more fluidity in the lymph system that results in more oxygen filling the body’s cells; this too has been noted to be able to help the liver in eradicating toxins

 

  • Combating the effects of caffeine and alcohol – the always popular tea and coffee are full of caffeine, yet this chemical’s a stimulant and liable not just to contribute to dehydration, but also bring on headaches and dizziness, as well as insomnia, anxiety and stress (in worst-case scenarios); MegaHydrate’s effective, though, in combating the effects that can be caused by high consumption of both caffeine and alcohol

 

  • Drives up zeta potential in cells – MegaHydrate’s singular among supplements in that it’s so effective in boosting the charge and stability within cells, as well as the space between blood cells (what’s called ‘zeta potential’), the result of which is there’s more surface area for blood cells and for the goodness from the supplement’s hydrating water, as well as more space to aid the exclusion of harmful toxins like bacteria, fungi, pollutants and viruses

 

  • Increases antioxidant levels – so potent are Megahydrate’s antioxidant properties that it’s possibly even better in this respect than superfoods like fruit juices, green tea, leafy vegetables and wheat grass; don’t doubt it, the importance of antioxidants and their free-radical-combating activities are underlined by the fact experts have linked them to improved energy, memory, sight and hearing and reduced likelihood of developing chronic disease

 

  • Preservative for juices – finally, MegaHydrate can also be deployed as a preservative when keeping fresh fruit and vegetable juices in the fridge; adding a mere, single capsule of the supplement to any juice should maintain the latter’s nutritional goodness (or ‘redox potential’) for as long as a week.

 

MegaHydrate supplements

So, where can you get your eager hands on MegaHydrate? Why, through us at The Finchley Clinic, of course. Indeed, the following three versions of the supplement are currently all available at special offer prices:

MegaHydrate – as noted, this naturally-derived, dietary supplement offers profound anti-ageing and energy boosting properties and, as an antioxidant, is claimed to be 800% more effective than other products and foods.

MegaHydrate Powder – a powder form of the supplement, which is actually better value for money than the original, as each bottle contains 50g compared to the 18g per bottle the above version offers

Crystal Energy – a great supplement that’s intimately associated with MegaHydrate and ideal to take along with it; by adding Crystal Energy to the water you drink, it will ensure the water actually alkalises the body, thus augmenting the hydrating and antioxidising effects of MegaHydrate.

Optibac Probiotics, Optibac Probiotics for Babies & Children, Probiotics

The power of probiotics: what can probiotics do for you?

It might be said that many things in life are about striking a balance and keeping them in harmony. In many ways, that’s true of your health too – not least your gut health. For, individually (and especially when they’re combined), the effect of toxins, a poor diet and stress on the digestive system is to seriously imbalance its order and cause you issues and problems. Fortunately, however, to combat these malignant forces in the gut, there are probiotics.

These micro-organisms are terrific at keeping the peace in the gut; restoring balance to it by driving out harmful toxins and other organisms that are such bad news. To be specific, a probiotic is either a type of living bacteria or yeast and healthy people carry around a great number of them within their bodies all the time. Neither harmful nor pathogenic, probiotics then enjoy symbiotic relationships with the human body (on the skin and in the mouth, nostrils and gut – the latter of which is home to more than 500 of them1). And, in terms of the gut, they play an absolutely critical role in creating the all-important microbiome there, featuring varied microbiota (or microflora), helping to ensure natural digestion, reliable immunity and good mental clarity.

 

Probiotic benefits

Going into more detail on just exactly why probiotics are so critical to the body then – and why they contribute so much to keeping it in balance and maintaining your good health – the following are all benefits delivered by probiotics when consumed either via foods rich in them or supplementary products:

  • Improve response from the immune system2

 

  • Reduce negative effects of taking antibiotics, such as diarrhoea3

 

  • Reduce irritation experienced in the gut after surgery3

 

  • Contribute to better-looking complexion and skin4

 

  • Encourage easier food and drink digestion6

 

  • Positively contribute to upper respiratory health7

 

  • Ease symptoms of lactose intolerance8

 

  • Aid better yeast balance in the gut and elsewhere in the body9

 

  • Promote good vaginal health10

 

  • Enable improved absorption of nutrients from consumed food and drink11

 

  • Support natural, normal bowel movements12

 

  • May improve oral health and help reduce halitosis (bad breath)13

 

  • Aid the body in synthesising B vitamins (separating them from food and using them)14, absorbing calcium15 and producing Vitamin K16.

 

Probiotic foods

So, armed with the knowledge of all the good consuming probiotics can do for you, as you now are, you’ll be wondering what the best sources for them actually are. Well, you’d be highly advised to try and work into your diet the following as often as possible:

  • Yoghurt – famed the world over as being a food that tends to be rich in probiotics (so long as it’s the right kind of yoghurt, of course), a healthy yoghurt takes some beating here; but, as nudged at, be careful, as too many yoghurts are sugar-rich so, instead, you ought to be aiming for those that contain almond, cashew, coconut or hemp ingredients17

 

  • Kefir – like yoghurt, this is a cultured dairy drink (if you didn’t already know); in addition to being packed with probiotics, kefir also features Vitamins B12 and K, calcium, folate, magnesium, phosphorous and thiamine18

 

  • Kimchi – the great thing is that kimchi, being a traditional Korean side dish comprising fermented vegetables, features a fantastic combo of cabbage, garlic, ginger, onion, radish and red pepper, thus making it a genuine superfood; this means that it’s not just bursting with probiotics and antioxidants, but also Vitamin C, the B vitamins, beta-carotene, calcium, dietary fibre, iron and potassium19.

 

Special offer probiotics

As mentioned above, it’s possible to boost your probiotic intake through naturally-derived, organic supplements as well, so should you find it difficult to work the likes of the above probiotic-rich foods into your diet, this may well be an appealing route to go. The following – all of them currently on special offer – are available (as are more) through us at The Finchley Clinic:

Optibac Probiotics for Every Day EXTRA Strength (90 capsules) – contains 20 billion live micro-organisms in each daily dose, including five probiotic strains, ensuring it supports overall digestive health, immunity and energy.

Optibac Probiotics for Women (90 capsules) – clinically trialled by over 2,500 women, this version of Optibac Probiotics contains the micro-organisms L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14, which may help treat thrush, cystitis, and bacterial vaginosis; safe and appropriate for women experiencing menopause, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Optibac Probiotics for Babies & Children (90 sachets) – ideal for children and infants (specifically for their digestion and natural defences), as well as women during pregnancy; contains three probiotics that highly important for young children’s health: acidophilus, B. infantis and bifidum.

 

References

  1. Bengmark, S. ‘Ecological control of the gastrointestinal tract.’ The role of probiotic flora Gut (1998): 42:2-7.
  2. Cunningham-Rundles S., Ahrne S. and Bengmark, S. ‘Probiotics and immune response’. Am. J. Gastroenterol (2000): 95:22–25.
  3. D’ Souza A. L., Rajkumar C., Cooke J. and Bulpitt C. J. ‘Probiotics in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea: meta-analysis’. BMJ (2002): 324-1361.
  4. Stavrou G. and Kotzampassi K. ‘Gut microbiome, surgical complications and probiotics’. Ann Gastroenterol (2017): 45-53.
  5. Al-Ghazzewi, F. H. and Tester R. F. ‘Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health’. Beneficial Microbes (2014): 99-107.
  6. Syngai G. G., et al. ‘Probiotics – the Versatile Functional Food Ingredients’. Journal of Food Science and Technology (2016): 921–933.
  7. Strasser B., Geiger D., Schauer M. et al. ‘Probiotic Supplements Beneficially Affect Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolism and Reduce the Incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Trained Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial’. Nutrients. (2016): 8-11.
  8. Corgneau M., Scher J., Ritié-Pertusa L. et al. ‘Recent Advances on Lactose Intolerance: Tolerance Thresholds and Currently Available Solutions’. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. (2015).
  9. Bao Y., Al K. F., Chanyi R. M. et al. ‘Questions and challenges associated with studying the microbiome of the urinary tract’. Ann Transl Med. (2017): 5 (2): 33.
  10. Reid G. ‘The development of probiotics for women’s health’. Can J Microbiol. (2016).
  11. Krajmalnik-Brown R., Zehra-Esra I., Dae-Wook K. and Dibaise J. K. ‘Effects of Gut Microbes on Nutrient Absorption and Energy Regulation’. Nutrition in Clinical Practice 27.2 (2012): 201-14.
  12. Sebastián Domingo J. J. ‘Review of the role of probiotics in gastrointestinal diseases in adults’. Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2017).
  13. Janczarek M., Bachanek T., Mazur E. and Chałas R. ‘The role of probiotics in prevention of oral diseases’. Postepy Hig Med Dosw. (2016): 70: 850-7.
  14. Capozzi V., Russo P., Dueñas M. T., López P. and Spano G. ‘Lactic acid bacteria producing B-group vitamins: a great potential for functional cereals products’. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. (2012). 96 (6): 1383-94.
  15. Scholz-Ahrens K. E., Ade P., Marten B. et al. ‘Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics affect mineral absorption, bone mineral content, and bone structure’. J Nutr. (2007): 137.
  16. Zhang Y. J., Li S., Gan R. Y., Zhou T., Xu D. P. and Li H. B. ‘Impacts of gut bacteria on human health and diseases’. Int J Mol Sci. (2015): 493-519.
  17. Guinane C. M. and Cotter P. D. ‘Role of the Gut Microbiota in Health and Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease: Understanding a Hidden Metabolic Organ’. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology 6.4 (2013): 295–308.
  18. Moore S. ‘Everything You Need to Know about Yogurt’. Moore Family Center Blog. Oregon State University, 2014 5 Nov.
  19. Brooks A. ‘Kimchi, the Korean Superfood’. Eat Smart Move More. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2014 9 May.

 

Antioxidants, MegaHydrate, MegaHydrate Powder

Anti-ageing ideas that work: how to keep your body as young as possible

Anti-ageing. It’s a wonderful phrase, isn’t it? It sounds mystical in a way; almost magical. Something that’s illogical and oh-so difficult to attain. But then, it depends on how you look at it. Because, of course, if you’re thinking of something along the lines of some sort of silver bullet that stops your body from ageing at all, then you really are in the realms of magic and fantasy.

Yet, in far more realistic terms, anti-ageing refers to the efforts that effective habits can contribute to you slowing the rate of ageing (or, to be bluntly precise, the rate of decline) of your body as you age. And that means adopting such habits as regular, decent physical exercise and a healthy diet based around natural, organic food.

Yes, to that end then, as you age you really are only as healthy as the food you eat. To wit, the following are all anti-ageing foods you should be looking to incorporate into your diet, at the very least.

 

Antioxidant foods

Owing mostly to a poor diet (as well as environmental factors), harmful entities known as toxins find their way into your body, producing micro-organisms called free radicals that are hazardously effective at damaging the body’s cells. The best way to counter their efforts, though, is to pack your diet with anti-ageing foods rich in antioxidants; molecules themselves, which neutralise free radicals. Indeed, a recent study suggests that consuming antioxidants helps people age slower, live longer and encounter fewer health issues1. The following are all great examples of antioxidant foods:

  • Berries – thanks to the two kinds of antioxidants they contain (flavonoids and anthocyanins, the latter responsible for their bright and bold colours), blackberries, blueberries, goji berries, raspberries and strawberries are all capable of contributing to a soothing of inflammation and boosting immunity2

 

  • Cruciferous vegetables – these kinds of veggies (brassicas) are absolutely teeming with the likes of isothiocyanates and indole-3-carbinol (yes, both of them antioxidants); note that the US National Cancer Institute advises eating broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and/ or cauliflower on a daily basis3

 

  • Dark chocolate – yes, chocolate is officially good for you, so long as it’s dark and contains at least 60% cocoa, ensuring it’s full of antioxidants called polyphenols

 

  • Grapes – thanks to comprising the antioxidant resveratrol (which animal testing has proved is capable of extending lifespan4), red and purple grapes are highly healthy foods; resveratrol also occurs in organic, sugar-free grape juice

 

  • Green tea – the antioxidants in this beverage (the second most drunk on the planet… only after water itself) are so critical in the fight against ageing because they protect cells from oxidative stress (the oxidising of molecules that can so harm cells and their work throughout the body)5

 

  • Pomegranates – as with all the above, pomegranates owe their heath-giving effects to antioxidants (in this case polyphenols6).

 

Unsaturated fat foods

Generally, as far as the human body’s concerned, there are two kinds of fat – and one of them’s definitely not bad, but the other one definitely is. Saturated fat’s the bad one, as it raises cholesterol and puts a person at risk from potential heart disease and stroke; happily, though, unsaturated fat’s the good one, as it helps to promote healthy cholesterol levels.

One kind of unsaturated fat is polyunsaturated fat, which occurs naturally in Omega-3 fatty acids (of which you’ve no doubt heard; they’re fantastic for aiding heart health7). The following foods then are ideal sources of these specific fatty acids:

  • Avocados – those in the know claim these fruits (the source for great guacamole, of course) not only support healthy cholesterol levels, but also contribute to good brain health, all of which may have a connection to their substantial Omega-3 content8, 9

 

  • Flaxseeds – a terrific source for Omega-3 goodness (as well as dietary fibre and several other nutrients), flaxseeds are, of course, cultivated for their oil as well as used whole, cracked or ground up as additions to the likes of salads, smoothies and baked foods.

 

Vitamin and mineral foods

So much for how the clever-clever sounding antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids (and, thus, the foods they contain) combat the ageing process – but, don’t doubt it, you can rely on good old-fashioned vitamins and minerals as well to boost your body’s health in an effort to keep it as young and in as good working order as possible.

The trick here is to consume as part of your daily diet as much natural, unprocessed organic food as you can (and as little processed, saturate-fat- and additive-rich foods as you can). Indeed, these naturally-derived foods are all superb sources for vitamins and minerals:

  • Beans – blessed with assorted nutrients (iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc), the essential-for-life amino acid lysine and the B-complex vitamin folate, without which all-important red blood cells couldn’t be created in the body, beans are incredibly healthy additions to anyone’s diet10

 

  • Dark leafy greens – high in Vitamins A, C, E and K, all such vegetables also feature great levels of calcium, fibre, iron, magnesium and potassium, while the likes of spinach, bok choy, kale and mustard greens are great sources for B-complex vitamins; moreover, dark leafy greens also boast a low glycemic index (GI), meaning they won’t force your blood glucose/ insulin levels to rise, important should you have diabetic issues11

 

  • Whole grains – refined grains lack all of the goodness of the entire grain, by definition then, whole grains do the opposite, comprising as they do all the grains’ natural nutritional value; so, including B vitamins and Vitamin E, calcium, dietary fibre, iron, magnesium and potassium, whole grains like amaranth, buckwheat, kaniwa, millet and quinoa are the ones to go for12.

 

Anti-aging supplements

As noted, fundamentally basing your diet around foods like those above is the best way to pivot your diet in an anti-ageing direction; yet, should you find this difficult, you might try to introduce some of those foods into your daily eating habits and rely on one or two naturally-occurring, organic supplement products as well. The following are all available at The Finchley Clinic:

MegaHydrate – claimed by the company behind it to be one of the most powerful antioxidants on the market, MegaHydrate is 800% more effective than other known products or foods, so much so it’s sometimes referred to as the ‘anti-ageing pill’ (like MegaHydrate Powder – see below – it’s currently on special offer at The Finchley Clinic)

MegaHydrate Powder – obviously a powder form of MegaHydrate, you get more bang for your buck (so to speak) with this format of the antioxidant supplement, as each bottle contains 50g compared to the 18g per bottle the above version offers

MSM Powder (2 lbs) – methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is the body’s most prevalent (and so, definitely one of its most necessary) minerals; it’s key for effective skin, hair and nail growth, keeping connective tissues strong, ensuring good joint function, proper enzyme activity, hormone balance and effective immunity.

 

References

  1. Assmann K. E., Andreeva V. A., Jeandel C., Hercberg S., Galan P. and Kesse-Guyot E. ‘Healthy Aging 5 Years After a Period of Daily Supplementation With Antioxidant Nutrients: A Post Hoc Analysis of the French Randomized Trial SU.VI.MAX’. American Journal of Epidemiology; 182. 8 (2015): 694-704.
  2. ‘Berry Beneficial: Reduce Inflammation with Fruit’. Penn State Extension: Nutrition, Diet, and Health. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences; 2014 27 Oct.
  3. Higdon J. ‘Cruciferous Vegetables’. Linus Pauling Institute. Oregon State University; 2017 3 Jan.
  4. Wein H. ‘How Resveratrol May Fight Aging’. National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2013 25 Mar.
  5. Forester S. C. and Lambert J. D. ‘Antioxidant Effects of Green Tea’. Molecular nutrition & food research; 55. 6 (2011): 844–854. PMC.
  6. Ehrlich S. D. ‘Pomegranate’. University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center; 2016 2 Feb.
  7. ‘Omega-3 Fatty Acids: An Essential Contribution’. Harvard: T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The President and Fellows of Harvard College.
  8. Indivero V. M. ‘An Avocado a Day Keeps the Cardiologist Away’. Penn State University. Pennsylvania State University; 2015 7 Jan.
  9. DeMello H. ‘Boost Your Brain Health’. Healthy UNH. University of New Hampshire; 2014 30 June.
  10. Messina V. ‘Nutritional and Health Benefits of Dried Beans’. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2014 July.
  11. Yan L. ‘Dark Green Leafy Vegetables’. usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture; 2016 13 Aug.
  12. ‘Health Benefits of Whole Grains’. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Lette. Tufts University; 2016 Nov.
Cumin Formula, Healthy Gut, Vegan HCl

Gastric acid issues: do you need to increase your stomach’s HCl level?

 

If you suffer from indigestion or heartburn, your instant go-to treatment may well be antacids. Fair enough, you wouldn’t be alone; millions regularly use them (after all, half the population of the United States alone suffers from indigestion1), but the trouble is, they might well not be treating what’s actually your digestive issues – in fact, they may well just make things worse in the long-term. This is because the likes of indigestion and heartburn are often caused by low levels of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid or ‘HCl’) and antacid treatment for its symptoms tends to neutralise its presence further, thus making things worse.

But why is stomach – or gastric – acid so important; what is it about HCl’s presence in the digestive system that makes it so critical to the good running of this part of the body and, thus, the wider body at large? Well, being a potent digestive agent, HCl plays a crucial role in the breaking down of proteins into their constituent parts (amino acids and nutrients), as well as stimulating the pancreas and small intestine to generate the bile and digestive enzymes needed to break down food ingredients further (into proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and killing the pathogenic bacteria and the yeast in food that can cause illness and disease.

 

Low stomach acid problems

So much for what gastric acid actually does, but what happens if your levels of it are too low? More specifically than indigestion or heartburn, what happens? Well, not only could it bring on digestive problems, it could also significantly lower your level of immunity. And throw into the mix too the fact that, as people age they tend to consume more processed food, making for a poor, non-nutritious diet and, thus, reducing stomach acid and the fact that we all produce less of HCl as we get older, and you’ve a recipe for trouble.

As has been noted already, the body won’t digest enough nutrients without sufficient stomach acid and, as part of that, the body will become protein-malnourished and digest protein improperly. This will inevitably result in the blood becoming acidic, owing to mineral deficiency and, naturally, the body will seek minerals from anywhere and everywhere else to balance the blood and turn it more alkaline. Indeed, among the parts of the body from which minerals will be taken (where, of course, they’re much needed already) will even be the likes of bones; potentially causing – or contributing to – osteoporosis.

And, as you may have guessed, this means a feedback loop will begin – low stomach acid ensures the body’s not getting enough minerals, which results in acidic blood, in turn resulting in the scouring of the rest of the body for necessary minerals, which among other harmful problems lowers stomach acid further. And, unfortunately, once this state of affairs has established itself it’s likely to ensure a rise in the body’s cortisol levels (related to stress), affecting not just temperament and behaviour, but also likely raising blood sugar levels. Additionally, the adrenal glands may become depleted (adrenal fatigue), causing the suppression of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which could bring on premature aging.

 

Low stomach acid symptoms

So, what if you are suffering from low stomach acid – how might you know? Well, the following symptoms could all – certainly a combination of many of them – be tell-tale signs1, 2:

  • Acne
  • Adrenal fatigue
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Bloating, belching, and flatulence rapidly following eating
  • Candida (chronic)
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Constipation and/ or diarrhoea
  • Cracked nails
  • Deficiency of iron
  • Food allergies
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion
  • Potential hair loss (women)
  • Rectal itching

 

Increasing stomach acid

As you may have expected, the best way to increase your digestive system’s stomach acid is to improve your diet. First up, it’s imperative to reduce or try and eliminate entirely mineral-depleting sugar and sweeteners from what you eat on a daily basis. One of the ways in which you might try to do this is to replace much of the table sugar (or sucrose) you consume with the entirely naturally-occurring sweetener stevia. Second, you might want to add fermented foods and drinks to what you eat – the likes of raw, cultured vegetables, which don’t just taste fantastic but also are packed with vitamins, minerals and probiotics, and young coconut kefir, a fermented drink that can be made at home with the right ingredients.

Hopefully, in improving your diet, your digestion should begin improving and indigestion and heartburn should decrease, while your overall energy should increase; however, if you have long-standing digestive problems, it’s important to be aware it might take longer than you’d initially hoped for your health to improve. Patience and commitment to healthier eating – and a healthier lifestyle – then is paramount.

 

Stomach acid supplements

That said, you may find you’re able to boost your stomach acid levels via organic, natural supplementation – in addition to making the sort of sensible, positive changes to your diet as outlined above. For instance, the following appropriate supplements are available through us at The Finchley Clinic:

Cumin Formula (HCl-Rejuve) – appropriate for vegans, these vegetarian capsule shells contain (in addition to HCl), aniseed, cumin, ginger, cayenne, fennel, caraway and hops.

Vegan HCl – can be consumed in conjunction with Cumin Formula, this supplement may aid protein-digestion and reduce food sensitivities, bloating and gas and improve food absorption.

 

References

  1. Saltzman J. R., Kemp J. A., Golner B. B., Pedrosa M. C., Dallal G. E. and Russell R. M. ‘Effect of hypochlorhydria due to omeprazole treatment or atrophic gastritis on protein bound vitamin B12 absorption’. J Amer Coll Nutr. 1994 Dec; 13 (6): 13:584-591.
  2. Kennedy R. ‘Hypochlorhydria.’ Doctor’s Medical Library. http://www.medical-library.net/hypochlorhydria.html.

 

Pure Pea Vegan Protein, Thinner G, Weight Management

Use your head to lose weight – and go the sensible supplement route

Newsflash: there’s no silver bullet; there’s no quick fix; no life-hack. There’s no way to cut the corner when it comes to losing weight. Should you be seeking and then suddenly think you’ve found a genius product that will ensure you lose weight merely because it persuasively says it will; don’t believe it. If you go on to buy and consume it, you’ll have been conned. No such product exists; no such weight loss programme that supposedly follows a process to result in ‘proven’ success exists. Now, there are naturally-derived supplements out there that will – to a certain extent – help your weight-loss efforts (we’ll come on to them in due course), but primarily, there’s only one way to lose weight properly and successfully and without harming your body: eat healthily and exercise regularly.

 

Responsibility and motivation

Ultimately, without the desire to lose weight and the drive to do what it takes and see it through, you won’t achieve your weight-loss objective. In short, it’s down to you – it’ll be an effort and you’ll have to undertake it and keep going to achieve your goal. There’s no other way. It’s about taking responsibility, making the changes to your lifestyle you must and sticking with them. Food for thought: it’s been said that it takes three full weeks (21 days) to alter and/ or adopt a habit; that in itself then, so the psychology supposedly goes, isn’t an overnight transition – it’s something you have to throw yourself into, commit to and keep going with.

But, at the same time, don’t expect too much too soon; don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Otherwise the whole thing could become overwhelming. To lose weight, you should set an ultimate goal (a particular weight you want to lose or get down to), but in doing so, set smaller, short-term goals as you go on with your healthier-eating and exercise regime. And bear in mind too, though, that because you are losing weight, you’re going to be doing something that’s better for your body day after day, so once you’re away and going, there’s a good chance you’ll feel better as you progress. Does that mean it could easier the deeper you get into it? Perhaps – but prepared for a long slog, nonetheless!

 

Weight loss products – which to trust and which not?

Really, it comes down to engaging your brain and using your common sense – and, of course, not being taken in by easy-on-the-eye, easy-on-the-mind commercials, whether they be print or online ads or infomercials (the likes of which appear to be multiplying on UK TV channels nowadays). If any part of you does feel like it may be swayed or even persuaded by the supposed weight-loss products (either in food- or pill-consumable form or equipment/ apparatus form), it’s crucial you stop for a moment and actually scrutinise what the product claims it will do for you against what it actually contains.

What are the ingredients of the bottle of pills or ‘superfood’ being advertised (aside from doing nothing good for you at all, they may even do your body harm)? How much exercise are you really going to get from that limited-action apparatus being demonstrated in that infomercial? And, in advertising any of these products, is there any admission at all that to lose weight you’ll have to put in the effort to adopt a healthier, more sensible diet and do decent physical exercise? If the answer’s no; ask yourself why that probably is.

 

Sensible supplements

All that said, as mentioned above, there are at least some sensible food-based products you can purchase that, along with a dedicated healthy-eating and daily exercise programme, are likely to help you lose weight. And that’s because such weight management supplements comprise very specific ingredients that have been precisely formulated by experts to deliver optimum effect.

For instance, they may contain naturally-occurring, organic compounds that support digestion, provide a thermogenic effect or stimulate the metabolism. In other words, they’ll comprise nutrients that aim to support the good work achieved through good, regular exercise and an improved diet rich in fresh foods and far, far lower in sugary, additive-packed snacks and drinks. The trick is to try to live healthily first; the weight-loss should follow.

Remember then, to properly research the supplements you’re interested in; what do they contain? If they’re not organically-derived ingredients, ignore them. For starters, here are three highly recommended supplements on sale through The Finchley Clinic:

Pure Pea Vegan Protein – derived from the highest quality pea protein isolate, thus containing many essential and non-essential amino acids that can compensate for common deficiencies in vegetarian/ vegan diets, as well as supporting the reduction of body fat and increasing and repairing lean muscle mass.

Thinner G – a combination of botanicals that seeks to aid weight-loss by blocking both uptake of sugars, fats and carbohydrates and fat formation, as well as reducing appetite and cravings and encouraging the body to burn calories and fat.

MicroCell Lipotone Intensive – powder-based, comprising conjugated lipoic acid (CL), l-carnitine and garcinia cambogia; designed to aid the body’s natural management of fats and carbohydrates, alongside an exercise and dietary regime.

 

Healthy Blood Sugar, NutraMedix Stevia, Weight Management

Stunning stevia: naturally derived and healthier – and sweeter – than sugar

You may not believe it, but it’s true; there’s a sweetener that, despite being hundreds of times sweeter than table sugar, can do your body a great deal of good. It may sound bizarre, but why is that? We’re conditioned to think that sweet foods are bad for us because so many of them contain large amounts of non-naturally-occurring and calorific sugar – but, yes, it’s because stevia is entirely naturally occurring that it’s so full of goodness for anyone who might try to work it into their diet.

So intensely sweet-tasting, it’s believed to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar1, stevia’s reputation as a sweetening ingredient in cooking and general food preparation is actually well established; indeed, it’s been used in drinks like tea going back to the 16th Century. Originally native to South American countries like Brazil and Paraguay, but now also grown throughout the South East Asian powers China and Japan, it’s becoming increasingly recognised for its non-nutritive (non-calorific) properties and, thus, as a healthy alternative to added sugar (sucrose)2.

In fact, in recent years, food products that contain stevia have enjoyed a 58 percent increase in sales3 – and that huge leap may be explained by the fact it’s now looked on not just as a great-tasting alternative to sugar, but also as a food ingredient that’s brimming with health benefits.

 

What exactly is stevia?

Specifically then, Stevia rebaundiana Bertoni belongs to the sunflower family, being a bushy shrub that was originally native to both North and South America and boasting 150 separate species. To extract the naturally-occurring sugar-based qualities of the stevia plant (what, thus, becomes known as ‘stevia’ when it’s used as a food ingredient or supplementary extract), the glycosides within the plant’s leaves – molecules that contain sugar bonded with other chemicals – are extracted and purified through a longwinded process, following the harvesting of the leaves themselves.

In all, stevia leaves contain eight of these glycosides: stevioside; rebaudiosides A, C, D, E and F; steviolbioside and dulcoside A – note; the first and second of these, stevioside and rebaudioside (reb A), are the most plentiful in terms of natural goodness4.

 

Stevia health benefits

So, what of stevia’s natural goodness? Well, once correctly and successfully extracted from the source plant, it’s health benefits are, indeed, many. It should be pointed out, though, that although it’s referred to as non-calorific, stevia isn’t absolutely calorie-free, yet it comprises far in a way fewer than sucrose; enough, for sure, to be referred to as containing practically none. And this very low calorie count ensures that, especially in contrast to sucrose, stevia can operate as a sweetener that not only won’t worsen diabetes and weight gain, but aid in helping to control and combat them, respectively. In more detail then, the possible health benefits of stevia include:

  • Weight management – according to US Government figures, consuming added sugars alone accounts for around 16 percent of the total calorie count in Americans’ diet and, unsurprisingly, studies have linked this directly to weight gain5 and (if sucrose is consumed excessively) obesity6, as well as unhealthy blood glucose levels and cardiovascular disease), so switching to many of the food products on the market today that comprise naturally-sourced stevia – everything from snack bars to salad dressings – ensure that people (not least children, who are so attracted to sweet foods and drinks) can transition away from sucrose and enjoy a lower sugar diet

 

  • Blood pressure – the results of a study conducted in 2003 suggest that stevia may be able to help reduce blood pressure7, not least thanks to it containing cardiotonic actions, which work to normalise blood pressure and regulate heartbeat; moreover, some stevia glycosides are believed to dilate blood vessels and boost sodium excretion and urine production (it ought to be pointed out, though, that some experts believe more research in this area needs to take place)

 

  • Diabetes – consuming stevia has been shown to have no negative effect on either blood glucose8 or insulin9 response; in fact, type 2 diabetes sufferers have reported that stevia has contributed to significant drops in blood glucose and glucagon response following meals10

 

  • Pancreatic cancer – there is a possibility that, thanks to comprising the antioxidant flavanol kaempferol, stevia may be able to help cut the risk of developing pancreatic cancer; a study having suggested kaempferol may reduce the risk by as much as 23 percent11.

 

Stevia supplements

Fair dos, for many people, finding, purchasing and blending stevia-derived foods and drinks into their daily diets may not be the easiest thing to do – as noted, stevia is becoming more and more popular, but it’s still far easier for consumers to get their hands on added sugar alternatives… far easier. In which case, while trying to cut down on your sucrose intake, you may try to introduce (or boost) stevia in your diet via these stevia supplements, both of them available through us at The Finchley Clinic:

NutraMedix Stevia (30ml) – boasting 300 times the sweetness of sugar, this form of stevia is ideal for diabetics, those looking to lose weight and those wanting to reduce their sugar intake; can be used as an alternative to table sugar (four drops the equivalent to a teaspoon).

Fizzy C (Vitamin C) – a fantastic addition to water or any juice should you want a ‘fizzy’ drink, but one free of artificial additives, flavours and sweetening (the sweetening being provided by stevia glycosides).

 

References

  1. NHS Choices. ‘Are stevia plant extracts safe?’. https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/are-stevia-plant-extracts-safe.aspx. Last review date: 13/4/2016.
  2. National Agricultural Library. ‘Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweetener Resources’. United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/nutritive-and-nonnutritive-sweetener-resources.
  3. Pure Circle Stevia Institute. ‘Appetite and Weight Management’. https://www.purecirclesteviainstitute.com/nutrition-and-health/weight-management/.
  4. Kubica P., Namieśnik J. and Wasik A. ‘Determination of eight artificial sweeteners and common Stevia rebaudiana glycosides in non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry’. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2015; 407: 1505–1512. Published online 2014 Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s00216-014-8355-x.
  5. US Department of Agriculture/ US Department of Health and Human Services. ‘Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010’. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/dietaryguidelines2010.pdf. 2010 Dec.
  6. Yang Q., Zhang Z., Gregg E. W., Flanders W. D., Merritt R. and Hu F. B. ‘Added sugar intake and cardiovascular diseases mortality among US adults’. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Apr; 174 (4): 516-24. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13563.
  7. Ming-Hsiung Hsieh et al. ‘Efficacy and tolerability of oral stevioside in patients with mild essential hypertension: A two-year, randomized, placebo-controlled study’. Clinical Therapeutics. Vol. 25, Issue 11, 2003 Nov, pp 2797-2808. doi.org/10.1016/S0149-2918(03)80334-X.
  8. Anton Stephen D. ‘Effects of stevia, aspartame, and sucrose on food intake, satiety, and postprandial glucose and insulin levels’. Appetite. Vol. 55, Issue 1, 2010 Aug, pp 37-43. doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.03.009.
  9. MNT Editorial Team. ‘What is Insulin?’. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/whatisinsulin.php.
  10. MNT Editorial Team. ‘Type 2 Diabetes: Causes and Symptoms’. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/type2diabetes.php.
  11. Lee J. and Kim J.-H. ‘Kaempferol Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth and Migration through the Blockade of EGFR-Related Pathway In Vitro’. PLoS One. 2016; 11 (5): e0155264. Published online 2016 May 13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155264.
Co-Enzyme Q10, Coenzyme Q10, Coenzymes, Liposomal Q10, Microcell CoQ10, True Maxi Q10

The little coenzyme that could: why CoQ10 is so important for your health

The human body needs many microscopic – and even smaller – entities within it to function correctly and help keep us healthy throughout our lives. But one such molecule that doesn’t get talked about much that’s absolutely crucial to both animals (including humans) and plants, thus of universal importance to pretty much all living things, is the coenzyme.

Sometimes referred to as cosubstrates, coenzymes – it should be noted – are not actually enzymes. As organic nonprotein cofactors, they’re critical in ensuring that enzymatic and metabolic processes in the body take place as they should. They do this by loosely attaching themselves to enzymes that are inactive – often called apoenzymes – to convert them into active forms and so become capable of catalysing chemical reactions (if you like, a bit like using a key on a lock), including the breaking down of food, thus resulting in the release of energy usable by the body’s cells. Moreover, coenzymes enjoy an important, rather cosy relationship with vitamins; the latter make sure that the former can be synthesised, therefore underlining the necessity to up the levels of vitamins in your body should they be low.

 

How do coenzymes work?

So, if you didn’t already, you now know what coenzymes do – but how do they do it? Well, they’re far from a one-trick pony; each coenzyme that attaches itself to an apoenzyme then detaches itself from the resultant enzyme once this biochemical reaction’s taken place, ensuring they can repeat this highly important process as cofactors with other apoenzyme/ enzymes over again.

Indeed, another reason the relationship between coenzymes and enzymes is so fundamentally important is because the former aid the transfer of compounds between different enzymes. This is crucial because each time there’s a necessary chemical reaction involving an enzyme, the molecule itself fundamentally changes, so the coenzyme helps ensure all enzymes can interact with each other. In so doing, coenzymes guarantee that competitive inhibition takes place, which is all about restricting enzymes’ activity so they’re not over-busy; doing things in the body when they don’t need to and thus causing problems1 – basically, competitive inhibition sees a coenzyme helping to attract and repel different compounds to and from a specific enzyme.

 

The qualities of CoQ10

Quite simply then, without an adequate number of coenzymes present and functioning in your body, it’ll detrimentally affect your health. By playing such a large role in the transfer of chemical compounds (or more specifically ‘functional groups’; the active sections of these compounds), they make sure that critical components like electrons, hydrogens and food (energy) are delivered to the body’s enzymes as they’re needed, thus often enhancing the stability/ reactivity of an enzyme’s product2, 3. Indeed, there’s also a critical symbiotic relationship between coenzymes and vitamins. Not only are the two kinds of molecule similar, but a good number of the vitamins we consume – or should consume, at least –are literally converted into all-important coenzymes. Just another reason then, like so many others pointed out so regularly on this blog, why it’s hugely important to put a vitamin deficiency right, should you suffer from one.

And, to focus on one coenzyme in particular (and its specific importance to the body’s health), one of the most frequently consumed in the body – Coenzyme Q10, or simply CoQ10 – isn’t just so useful because it aids the work and efficacy of enzymes in producing energy for cell growth and maintenance, but also because it functions extremely well as an antioxidant, thus preventing the harmful oxidation efforts on other much-needed molecules by free radicals. In this way, CoQ10’s been said to play a contributory role in preventing and/ or helping to treat the likes of heart failure, muscular dystrophy, periodontal disease and even cancer. As such, it’s proving ever more popular as a treatment to reduce the negative effects some synthetically produced medicines can have on muscles, the heart and other organs, as well as to boost energy and recovery following exercise.

 

Have you thought about Coenzyme Q10 supplements?

So, although they operate at that tiny molecular level, the much-needed activity of CoQ10 and other coenzymes resonates throughout the entire human body. There can be no doubt that maintaining their levels – and those of their precursor vitamins – in your body is critically important; otherwise such deficiencies can result in nasty and preventable conditions and, irrespective of how these begin, you won’t be able to fight them effectively if your body’s not awash with an adequate number of vitamins and coenzymes.

CoQ10 itself can be naturally sourced in a wide array of different foods; if you’re a vegetarian, you can get your fill of it from foodstuffs other than meat very effectively; the likes of mackerel and sardines (should you eat fish) or, failing that, peanuts, differing tree nuts, beans and soy oil. It’s important, though, that you focus on consuming the most active form of coenzymes – CoQ10 included – as possible, so to be sure of doing so you may be inclined to go the natural supplementation route. A good guide to the sort of products available can be found on The Finchley Clinic’s CoQ10 page, where you’ll find the following highly recommended supplements:

Liposomal Q10 – a supplement manufactured with Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET), which ensures its CoQ10 boasts much higher bioavailability than many equivalent products, thus delivering higher content of the coenzyme to the body’s cells (as much as 7-10 times more than regular supplements, in fact).

True Food Maxi Q10 – contains CoQ10-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae (food yeast), ensuring it can be easily digested and absorbed for high bioavailability; this supplement’s CoQ10 content is also noted to remain in the body longer than that of many comparative products.

Microcell CoQ10 – the CoQ10 and additional oils in this supplement are micellised into droplets, thus dispersed into water to increase absorption in the body, while also encased in a vegetable capsule to help reduce light-sensitive oxidation.

 

References:

  1. University of Hawaii. ‘Biochemistry’. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~johnb/micro/m130/m130lect7.html. n.p.
  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. ‘What is a Functional Group?’. UCLA. http://www.chem.ucla.edu/~harding/notes/FG_01.pdf. n.p.
  3. Linus Pauling Institute. ‘Vitamin C and Skin Health’. Oregon State University. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C. n.p.
Healthy Gut, Restore (for Gut Health)

Restore – the supplement that boosts healthy gut flora… and more!

 

 

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll have doubtless come across the claim that it’s of paramount importance to ensure the environment in your intestines – or, rather, your gut – is healthy. Its diversity must be strong. And that means that, among the 100 billion bacteria it ought to be home to, it should have a healthy balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria; that’s to say, the bad bacteria shouldn’t have the upper hand.

Otherwise, harmful, debilitating and long-term conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gluten allergies and obesity can take hold. There’s even debate that the seemingly ever-growing number of autism cases as well as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis may, in part, be caused by an unhealthy gut lacking in diversity1. And with both willing and unwilling consumption of the likes of antibiotics, pesticides and genetically-modified (GMO) foods often to blame for an unhealthy gut2, it’s a serious and an all too common problem. So, in more detail, why don’t we take a look at some of the biggest and most obvious reasons for ensuring your gut flora remains healthy?

 

Healthy gut flora benefits

Unfortunately, a lack of healthy diversity in the gut could lead to a worse intestinal-focused complaint than IBS; it could also help bring about Crohn’s disease. Healthy flora then, by contrast, is an excellent insurance policy against developing Crohn’s, a long-term illness that afflicts people with inflammation of the digestive system’s lining. Indeed, research has linked inflammation levels among Crohn’s sufferers with an overabundance of specifically harmful bacteria types in their intestines3. That said, in addition to reducing the chances your body will experience serious gastrointestinal issues, a balanced and healthy gut flora does a pretty simple, positive thing – it helps with your general digestion.

Recent research seems to proves this fact, suggesting a diverse microbiome contributes to intestinal integrity4, which means it aids in the gut choosing to allow only non-harmful contents to pass elsewhere into the body where they’ll do good (such as providing food to be transformed into energy for cells) and aids it ensuring non-useful, potentially dangerous contents are harmlessly transported to the excretory system.

Meanwhile, experts are slowly unearthing the complex gut-brain connection and appear to have discovered there may be a link, as mentioned, between intestinal health and autism, with a by-product of certain gut-focused treatments being that, in boosting bacteria levels, they maybe help the condition of autistic children5, 6. Furthermore, other research suggests healthy gut flora contributes positively in combating depression and anxiety7.

 

How to restore your gut flora

So much for the benefits of restoring your gut flora to its healthiest possible balance and diversity, but how do you actually do it? Well, it’s true that there are an awful lot of naturally-derived supplements on the market that claim to do just that – and a number of them are certainly effective. Indeed, terms you’ve probably heard used to describe such products are ‘probiotics’ and ‘prebiotics’. To be clear, they’re not the same thing.

Probiotics specifically add to the ‘good’ or ‘healthy’ bacteria in the intestinal tract, in order to help balance out the gut flora (thus reducing the dominance of ‘bad’ bacteria and similarly harmful toxins); prebiotics are fibres that, once consumed, act as food for probiotics in the gut, enabling the latter to survive, grow and multiply. All very good, but it’s fair to point out that, as gut-focused supplements, probiotics and prebiotics do have drawbacks – there are some things they’re not so adept at.

First up, probiotics certainly do boost numbers of ‘good bacteria’ in the intestines, but many of the probiotic supplements available will provide around 30 additional strains of gut bacteria, the problem being then this could lead to a ‘monoculture’ of just a few probiotic strains in your gut. The reality is your intestinal tract requires between 20,000 and 30,000 of them to be properly healthy and, thus, functioning as effectively as possible.

Moreover, prebiotics (although definitely helping to support an injured gut in the work they do) are unfortunately, like too many probiotic products, unable to address the all-important ‘tight junctions’ in the gut wall. All-important? Yes; if these junctions become too loose damaging toxins can pass through the gut and elsewhere into the body, harming the immune system especially. In which case, what you may feel you really need is a supplement that works to boost the gut flora productively (and in great, healthy numbers) and works to strengthen the lining of the gut wall at the same time.

 

Restore – neither a probiotic nor a prebiotic

The answer to getting your gut ecosystem right while tightening those intestinal wall junctions could just lie in a product named Restore (for Gut Health). Developed in the United States by a team of leading scientists headed by endocrinologist Dr Zach Bush, it’s a plant-derived, fluid-based supplement that, indeed, seeks to do what neither probiotics nor prebiotics – nor pretty much any other supplements – can.

And it does this because it enables clear and decisive ‘communication’ between the bacteria of the gut flora, establishing a highly effective communication network here that ensures the whole microbiome comes together to work as it should. Indeed, bacteria effectively communicate in a similar way to the body’s cells – by moving patterns of charges (referred to as redox signalling). Restore’s all about enabling this to take place; operating as something of a ‘liquid switchboard’, if you will, promoting balance, regulation, improved hydration and nutrition in the gut.

The pivotal ingredient in Restore that ensures it can do this work is lignite extract. Naturally derived from lignite – or brown coal – a sedimentary rock formed over thousands of years from prehistoric peat, it’s therefore absolutely abundant in nutrients, not least the mineral carbon which, among other things, has the ability to bind to toxins in the intestinal tract; thereby ensuring they pass safely through the system and can’t escape, meaning there’s no chance of them damaging the immune system and more within the wider body.

So, for more information and the opportunity to purchase Restore from us at The Finchley Clinic, take a look at the supplement in its different dosage options below – you’ll also discover that should you wish to buy it from us, you can save money because it’s currently on special offer:

Restore (32 fl oz)

Restore (16 fl oz)

Restore (8 fl oz)

Restore (3 fl oz/ trial/ travel size)

 

References:

  1. Bhattacharjee S. and Lukiw W. J. ‘Alzheimer’s disease and the microbiome’. Front Cell Neurosci. 2013; 7: 153. 2013 Sep. doi:  10.3389/fncel.2013.00153.
  2. Johnston K. ‘Endangered Species: Your Gut Flora’. Epoch Times. https://www.theepochtimes.com/endangered-species-your-gut-flora_345941.html. Last update 5 Nov 2013.
  3. Gevers D. et al. ‘The Treatment-Naive Microbiome in New-Onset Crohn’s Disease’. Cell Host & Microbe. 2014 Mar; 15 (3) 382-92. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2014.02.005.
  4. Christensen E. G., Licht T. R., Leser T. D. and Bahl M. I. ‘Dietary xylo-oligosaccharide stimulates intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli but has limited effect on intestinal integrity in rats’. BMC Res Notes. 2014 Sep; 19 (7): 660. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-660.
  5. Kang D-W., Park J. G., Ilhan Z. E., Wallstrom G., LaBaer J., Adams J. B. and Krajmalnik-Brown R. ‘Reduced Incidence of Prevotella and Other Fermenters in Intestinal Microflora of Autistic Children’. Plos.org. 2013 Jul. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0068322.
  6. Hsiao E. Y. et al. ‘Microbiota Modulate Behavioral and Physiological Abnormalities Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders’. Cell Host & Microbe. 2013 Dec; 155 (7) 1415-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.024.
  7. Foster J. A. and McVey Neufeld K. A. ‘Gut-brain axis: how the microbiome influences anxiety and depression’. Trends Neurosci. 2013 May; 36 (5):305-12. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2013.01.005. Epub 2013 Feb 4.
Antioxidants, Barley Grass Powder, Detoxification, Vitamins & Minerals

Glorious Green Magma: how a taste of the Orient can do you so much good

Who’d believe that something so old could be so good for you? Don’t doubt it; barley grass is. It’s been a naturally-derived source for wellbeing since at least 7,000 BC; especially in Japan, where its capacity to aid digestion, detoxification and anti-ageing has long been recognised – and deeply respected. And in recent decades it’s become likewise recognised (and consumed) for these properties in the West.

Primarily, this has been thanks to the efforts of pharmaceutical developer Dr Yoshihide Hagiwara, whom had to give up his day job at the tender age of 38 due to toxic poisoning. Having fully recovered via natural medicines and foods alone, he devoted the rest of his life to investigating green foods and just what they were capable of for the good of the human body. His research led him to publish his conclusions, in which he claimed that barley grass is ‘one of the most nutritionally balanced foods in nature’ and ‘the ideal fast food for the human race’. Strong words, indeed, but it seems that this greenest of green foods and most super of superfoods is capable of backing them up.

 

The road to Green Magma

Technically speaking, barley grass are the young, soft shoots that crop on the barley plant and, in his experiments, Hagiwara unfortunately discovered that the multiple, health-giving nutrients stored in these shoots are destroyed by heat and acidity (when the shoots are either cooked or treated to be transformed into an easily consumable form like a supplement). In which case, he hit on the idea of a unique spray-dry process to create a different kind of extraction. Not only did this successful discovery earn him acclamation in his native Japan, it also led to his patented methods proving the basis for the manufacturing process behind the modern, highly advanced and extremely nutritious version of Barley Grass Powder, namely Green Magma.

Packed full of all the goodness of natural barley grass then, Green Magma is truly a multi-nutrient superfood that’s bursting with more than 70 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Among its incredible array of ingredients are:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
  • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  • Vitamin B3 (niacin)
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  • Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
  • Vitamin K (phylloquinone)
  • Folate
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorous
  • Potassium
  • Zinc
  • Beta-carotene
  • Phycocyanin
  • Superoxide dismutase
  • Chlorophyll
  • Flavonoid 2”-O-GIV

 

Green Magma benefits

But why is it so impressive that Green Magma comprises all these vitamins and minerals? Well, the fact it does so is what ensures it’s such an enriching, health-aiding supplement; such a potent, dissoluble powder-based (and so very easy-to-consume) version of the original barley grass. It’s the fact it comprises all these vitamins and minerals that it offers those why try it – and take it daily – so many benefits that can help bring relief to a range of conditions and illnesses. For instance:

  • A natural antioxidant – owing to it containing the enzyme superoxide dismutase, Green Magma boasts terrific antioxidant properties, this ingredient enjoying nothing more than to act as a free radical scavenger, utterly neutralising the harmful effects of the opportunistic micro-organisms and so preventing the development of a whole host of illnesses caused by the otherwise resultant oxidative stress (it’s aided in these efforts by the flavonoid 2”-O-GIV); moreover, the presence of alpha-tocopherol in Green Magma successfully stimulates the release of the protein prolactin which may inhibit the growth of cancerous tumours as much as 10 times better than other versions of Vitamin E can

 

  • May improve digestion – as barley grass has a naturally positive, stimulating effect on ‘gut friendly’ bacteria (the ‘good’ rather than the ‘bad’ bacteria to be found in the intestines), Green Magma can help in alleviating inflammation and other symptoms that are associated with gastrointestinal complaints like ulcerative colitis (UC), something which is only boosted by its handy talent for reducing aggressive bowel chemicals, as well as aiding in the flushing out of toxins from the body and assisting in the maintenance of the bowel’s fluid balance

 

  • A natural detoxifier – all heavy metals (e.g. lead) are very poisonous to the human body and require swift removal from it, should trace levels of them been accidentally consumed and thus accumulated, and via detoxification this is something else at which Green Magma comes up trumps, specifically through the work of its trace element zinc; furthermore, barley grass’s naturally occurring chlorophyll and beta-carotene can aid the detoxing of waste mucous and crystallised acids, all of which contributes to the efficacy of the body carrying out metabolic processes and the critical detoxification work that goes on in the liver (note: those in need of detoxification may experience tiredness on first using Green Magma for this purpose; so it’s best to start with low doses of the supplement and build them up slowly over time, owing to its powerful detoxing qualities)

 

  • May restore acid-alkali balance – in its Green Magma version, barley grass makes for a superb natural alkaline source, ideal then for reducing excess acidity in the body and preventing otherwise possible acidosis damage; to this end, thanks to its work at restoring the human body’s acid-alkali balance, it may also aid in the prevention of a wide range of differing complaints, including cardiac pain, constipation, fatigue and sleep disorders

 

  • May improve skin, hair and nail quality – finally, Green Magma may also prove a great contributor to the regeneration of cells without side effects, which is where its ingredients including chlorophyll, iron and Vitamin C come in, as well as the pigment-protein phycocyanin, which inspires the creation of red and white blood cells and bone marrow; indeed, it’s this adept ability to aid renewal in the body that ensures Green Magma also helps to preserve hair and nail quality and keep skin looking youthful.

 

How to take Green Magma

A juice-based version of barley grass then (although it’s also available from The Finchley Clinic in tablet-form; see below), your best advised serving of Green Magma is via stirring a teaspoon of the supplement’s powder in a glass (160ml) of water – or non-acidic fruit juice – and drinking it up to twice a day. For best results, it’s best to consume Green Magma either 20 minutes before or around two hours after a meal; this will enable the nutrients to be absorbed as best as possible in the body. Remember not to mix the powder with a hot drink – heat may well damage the supplement’s active enzymes!

If you’re interested in purchasing and trying Green Magma, we stock the supplement in various dosages; take a look at them all below:

Green Magma (300g)

Green Magma (150g)

Green Magma (80g)

Green Magma (10-day trial pack)

Green Magma (250 tablets)

Allertrex, Lung cleanse, Restore Sinus Spray

Breathe easy: do you need a lung cleanse?

If it seems to you more people are suffering from colds, the flu and viruses than used to be the case then you may not be imagining it. We live in a heavily industrialised world, in which vehicle and industrial emissions and chemical by-products are all known to be harmful, causing serious ill-health in millions of people across the planet. And yet, what’s far less noted is that indoor air nowadays is also a culprit. Indeed, it’s been estimated that today’s indoor air may actually be up to six times – or even 10 times – worse for your health than outdoor air. Yes, really.

 

How is this possible? Well, the United States Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that around 60 percent of all homes in that nation alone contain airborne pollutants that can harm human health. And the American College of Allergies has reported that as much as half of all modern-day illnesses are a result of air pollution – but not outdoor air pollution; indoor air pollution.

Moreover, it’s believed that, among the likes of dangerous toxins and infectious bacteria, allergens become concentrated in today’s highly insulated homes up to 200 percent more than standard homes. The truth is that, thanks to the drive to insulate our homes and the offices in which so many of us work and so save energy costs and cut unnecessary emissions, we’re simply not ventilating the air in our buildings as much as we used to. The result? Very bad indoor air; so bad it may contain up to 100 times the number toxins as the air on the other side of the window. Without proper filtration of the air we breathe indoors then, it’s inevitable that damage – perhaps even severe damage – could be done to the tissue of many people’s lungs and, of course, without them having the foggiest idea it’s happening. And most of them have probably never even taken up smoking either.

 

The effect of allergens

It needs pointing out too that allergens play an increasingly potent role in the poor quality of indoor air. Apparently, there’s more than 1,000 separate species of mould and mildew in indoor environments; your own home is quite possibly a potential source of chronic respiratory or sinus problems, whether you like it or not – a staggering statistic goes that when a baby crawls over just a section of a room’s average carpet they’re likely inhaling the same toxic level as they would by smoking four cigarettes a day1.

Other home-based allergies can occur because of pets, not least the most popular four-legged family accompaniments, cats and dogs. And, contrary to popular belief, it’s not usually because such a pet may have long hair that’ll cause an allergic reaction or make for a worse allergy, as the source of the allergy is more likely to be the dander beneath the cat or dog’s hair rather than the hair itself (specifically, microscopic bits of dry skin that gets everywhere and you can’t see).

 

Tackling indoor air pollution

So, what’s the answer? What can we do to depollute the air of our homes, office spaces and more? Well, unless you run the business or organisation you work for, it may be difficult to alter the environment in which you spend several hours a day working, but you should and can definitely do something about your home’s indoor air. For instance, if you own a pet you shouldn’t necessarily get rid of it (unless its dander is resulting in allergic reactions that seriously affect your everyday life), but you should at least face up to the reality of what’s happening. To that end too, it’s important to bear in mind the statistics and facts stated above and not just reject them; your home should be the ultimate haven of comfort and repose in your life but it’s unlikely to be if just dismiss the points made above out of hand (for instance, synthetic, chemical-derived cleaning products also contain a level of toxicity; something to remember if you use them several times a day).

Overall, though, the easiest thing to address is the likely lack of ventilation in a modern home. In contrast to a draughty old house that’s several decades old, today’s homes are relatively airtight – the bad air can’t escape. Especially if you use air conditioning; which, to operate effectively, requires windows to be closed. In which case, consider investing in and using indoor air exchange systems and air purification systems to keep the environment cleaner and far more toxin/ allergen-free

 

Lung cleansing

Another approach – and something you may want to try in addition to purifying your indoor environment – is to cleanse your body’s lungs. Now, to read that, it may sound a little extreme, but, if you follow the advice below (all of which is totally harmless; don’t worry!), you’ll find it actually involves far from drastic, very sensible activities:

  • Breathing exercises – you can clear your airwaves, remove toxins from your lungs and strengthen them via deep breathing exercises; moreover, they offer the additional benefit of delivering more, highly nourishing oxygen to the lungs and wider body (it’s a great idea to engage in deep breathing for a few minutes in a quiet, relaxed space twice a day)

 

  • Diet – believe it or not, there are certain foods you can throw into your diet on a regular basis that’ll promote healthy function of your lungs; pistachios are rich in gamma-tocopherol (a Vitamin E variation that may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer), while plantain leaf has a handy habit of quelling mucous thereby aiding with congestion-related respiratory issues and cayenne peppers can ease irritation of the respiratory system, not least for those suffering from coughs and sore throats owing to infection

 

  • Natural remedies – finally, you might consider giving naturally-occurring plant-based remedies a whirl; why not when a whole roster of them (such as eucalyptus, lungwort, peppermint and osha root) were a staple of indigenous cultures and ancient civilisations in treating respiratory issues many millennia before the invention of synthetically-produced medication.

And to that end, you may like the idea of getting your fill of such naturally-derived respiratory remedies in the form of single lung cleanse products – both of the following examples are available through us at The Finchley Clinic and come highly recommended:

Allertrex – offers support for respiratory ailments, assists with normal lung functions and is developed with the specific aim of cleansing the lungs of harmful agents that inhibit their function.

Restore Sinus Spray – a proprietary blend of trace minerals suspended in purified water, designed to cleanse, soothe and hydrate the delicate membranes that line your nasal passages.

 

Reference:

  1. Intuitive Environmental Solutions. ‘Facts about indoor air quality’. http://www.intuitiveenvsol.com/indoor-air-quality-faq.html. n.p.

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