Crystal Energy, Green Magma, Heavy Metal Reduction, OREA

Toxic fix: protection from and cleansing yourself of heavy metals

When it comes to the danger of being contaminated by toxic (or ‘heavy’) metals, it’s easy to sound like a doom-monger; frankly, though, that’s a risk worth taking – because blithely exposing yourself to such dangerous substances most definitely isn’t.

The truth is, whether we like it or not, many everyday items contain toxic metal at low levels. They can be found in what we eat and drink, as well as the air we breathe (thus, they enter the body through consuming food and drinks, inhaling air and via skin and eye contact). It’s true that our bodies actually require a very small amount of ‘trace metals’ (iron and copper, for instance), but it’s very easy to consume and absorb too much; it’s all too easy because we require so very little.

Continue reading Toxic fix: protection from and cleansing yourself of heavy metals →

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

The big O: a lowdown on oxygen – and why you might try oxygen cleansing

Don’t doubt it; oxygen is an absolutely critical substance for humans. The odourless, colourless gas that accounts for a fifth of the air all around us (and is the third most abundant in space beyond the Earth), it’s absolutely critical to our wellbeing, given that, along with hydrogen it makes up water – the basis for all life – and is the single most common chemical element in the human body; accounting for a whopping 65% of the body’s overall mass3. To that end then, its functions and benefits in the body are many and plentiful – and what can go wrong when the body’s deprived of it are serious, indeed.

Continue reading The big O: a lowdown on oxygen – and why you might try oxygen cleansing →

Aloe Gold Natural, Children’s Health, Fivelac, Renaltrex, Women’s health

The Truth About Urinary Tract Infections – And The Supplements To Treat Them

All of us experience it at some time or another; that need to pee that just grows and grows until, finally, we’re able to relieve ourselves. Usually that’s all it is – the necessity to empty our bladder – but sometimes it’s more. Sometimes it feels like you need to pee all the time and can even experience a regular burning pain when you do relieve yourself. And it can be joined by other very unpleasant symptoms; lower back pain, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

If you experience all these things together then it may be you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Women, young children and teenagers tend to be prone to them and they can recur, primarily targeting the bladder and kidneys. That said, there are a few misconceptions about UTIs – among undoubtable truths about them too – that it’s as well to be aware of. The following are some of the most important.

Continue reading The Truth About Urinary Tract Infections – And The Supplements To Treat Them →

Co-Enzyme Q10, True Maxi Q10, Vitamins & Minerals

Why is Co-Enzyme Q10 a crucial nutrient – and should you boost its levels in your body?

It’s a regrettable fact of life… we all age and our bodies simply don’t perform when we’re older quite like they did when we were younger. Now, many of this accept this; many of us believe there’s no fountain of youth (newsflash: there isn’t) and no way to reverse the ageing process. Well, while that may be essentially true, it’s actually false that there isn’t anything we can do about it.

Take for instance, if you’re getting older, boosting your body’s levels of Co-Enzyme Q10. Your what, you may ask? Co-Enzyme Q10 (or simply CoQ10, as it’s often referred to) is a naturally-occurring nutrient in the human body; although neither a vitamin nor a mineral, the important role it plays in ensuring your body remains healthy and functions as it should often means it’s mentioned in the same breath as them. Primarily, it’s recognised as a major contributor to helping cells generate energy and a critical fighter against highly disruptive molecules known as free radicals that, in order to ‘complete themselves’, greatly damage cells and DNA.

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Kidney Health, Liposomal Vitamin C, True Food Vitamin C, Vitamin C, Vitamins & Minerals

The orange Juice Nutrient: How to Avoid and Beat Vitamin C Deficiency

Forever associated with orange juice, Vitamin C is perhaps the most easily recalled of all the family of vitamins whose consumption is crucial for our bodies to function exactly as they should. For, should you peel back the surface and break up the segments – yes, as would with an orange – of what Vitamin C does for us, you quickly find it’s impossible not to come to the conclusion it’s essential for healthy human life.

A natural antioxidant that also goes by the scientific name L-ascorbic acid, Vitamin C can actually be found in many fruit and vegetables, certainly not just oranges1. Among all the great things it does inside out bodies, it helps ensure growth and development take place as they should, especially as it aids in the repairing of damaged internal tissue2, 3 and, in helping produce the protein collagen, it plays a pivotal role in keeping the skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and blood vessels in good health4.

Continue reading The orange Juice Nutrient: How to Avoid and Beat Vitamin C Deficiency →

Banderol, Lyme Disease, Magnesium Citrate, Samento

Lyme Disease – What is it and How to Treat it?

There aren’t many people who, at one point or another, haven’t enjoyed time in the countryside; maybe a ramble across a moor, a pleasant stroll through green pastures or possibly a long walk in the woods. Few would credit the idea, though, that should you not live in the country, a visit could leave you ill, with exaggerated symptoms of fatigue; those similar to flu and even arthritic-like symptoms. How can this be so? Two words: Lyme disease.

To be clear, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll contract this illness via just a visit to the countryside; you’d be very unlucky to do so, but it is possible. Indeed, between 2,000 and 3,000 cases of Lyme disease occur in England and Wales every year1. So what is it? Well, Lyme borreliosis – to give its official name – is what happens following a bite from a tick, a creature (a bit like a miniscule spider) whose habitat tends to be woodland and heaths; it’s their bites that transfer the Lyme disease bacteria to an unlucky human victim.

Continue reading Lyme Disease – What is it and How to Treat it? →

Vein health, Vein support supplements

In the Right Vein: How to look After your Arteries and Veins

Of all the parts of the body, our arteries and veins may be one of those we take most for granted. There they are under our skin, sometimes visible, other times not, transporting the blood (and, in it, all the oxygen, vitamins, minerals, nutrients and more we need to survive and stay healthy, as well as the harmful entities like carbon dioxide so they can be expelled from the body). Yes, they’re just doing their job, while we get on with our lives and, for the most part, ignore them.

But should we take them for granted; let alone ignore them? Well, usually, as long as we’re in good health, looking after ourselves in general via a decent, balanced diet and getting regular exercise, we shouldn’t have too much trouble on the vein front. Yet, occasionally, it’s sensible to think about the welfare of the vascular system; about how important it is to maintain artery and vein integrity. After all, it’s the arteries and veins that are the highways of our bodies; like motorways, should they become clogged up or damaged, things begin to grind to a halt. And we can end up getting ill – potentially seriously.

Continue reading In the Right Vein: How to look After your Arteries and Veins →

Colostrum Plus, Oxy-Powder, Saccharomyces boulardii, Ulcerative colitis, Ulcerative colitis treatment

Tackling ulcerative colitis: the role of probiotics and supplements

For many of us, mercifully, an upset tummy – or unhappy digestive system – isn’t a regular occurrence and more an uncomfortable irritation that sets us back a little when it occurs. For others, however, it’s a far bigger deal; it can be an unpleasant, painful and frequent experience that leaves them feeling debilitated on a regular basis. In some cases, such people may be suffering from what’s known as ulcerative colitis (UC), which on occasions, along with the different but related Crohn’s disease, is referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)1.

Symptoms-wise, ulcerative colitis is far from fun. Recurring diarrhoea, possibly containing blood, mucus or pus, as well as abdominal pain and the urge to empty your bowels more than you’d wish are very common; sometimes people suffer heavy fatigue and appetite and weight loss too1. Why do these things happen? Well, Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition (its symptoms can be very frequent but equally not, as it goes into remission and comes back).

It’s caused by the colon (the gut or small intestine) and the rectum become inflamed. This sees small ulcers forming on the lining of the colon, which often bleed and produce pus1. The reasons why this happens are debated by experts, but it’s commonly held that the condition’s autoimmune-related – the thinking goes that the immune system confuses harmless bacteria in the gut for harmful organisms and, thus, attacks the colon’s tissue1.

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Owing to the relatively widespread nature of UC – there’s a reported 900,000 sufferers in the United States alone2 – treatment for the condition is nowadays available in all different kinds, shapes and sizes. Some of these forms of treatment are pretty obvious; others less so. Here are those worthy of note:

  •  Medication – as you’d expect, prescribed drugs are one of the most prevalent UC treatments and often they’re corticosteroids, but it depends on the condition’s severity and how the sufferer responds; in fact, after a year’s worth of medication treatment, around one third (30%) of patients experience remission3,
  •  Surgery – for non-responsive sufferers, surgery is common and may involve two- or three-stage procedures; indeed, recent research suggests that three-stage surgery may not actually be as safe as was originally believed
  •  Acupuncture – moxibustion (heating an acupuncture site) in addition to treatment via a traditional UC drug has apparently shown good results of late, while a study found that use of the Kuijiening plaster, again in addition to medication, appears to be better than taking the medication on its own
  •  Probiotics and other supplements – finally, naturally-derived supplementation is gaining more and more attention as a UC treatment8 and rightly so, as results of probiotics and other ulcerative colitis supplements look favorable9; the following, as well as many more, are all available viaThe Finchley Clinic and come highly advised among our customers for promoting improved bowel health and treating the symptoms of ulcerative colitis:

Saccharomyces boulardiiSaccharomyces Boulardii – a probiotic that may support good bowel health, comfort and function; also recognised as the number one probiotic for managing diarrhoea.

 

Oxy Powder 120 capsulesOxy-Powder – designed for optimum colon health via helping to cleanse and oxygenate the intestines.

 

Colostrum PlusColostrum Plus – a supplement that promotes digestive health, tackles inflammatory problems and supports the immune system.

 

References:

1. ‘Ulcerative colitis’. NHS Choices. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Last reviewed: 17 Mar 2016.

2. Manfred E. ‘True Stories: Living with Ulcerative Colitis’. Health Line. http://www.healthline.com/health/ulcerative-colitis-take-control-true-stories. Last reviewed: 15 Feb 2017.

3. Mehta S. J., Silver A. R. and Lindsay J. O. ‘Review article: strategies for the management of chronic unremitting ulcerative colitis’. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 38 (2): 77-97. doi: 10.1111/apt.12345. July 2013.

4. Reinisch W., Sandborn W. J., Panaccione R., Huang B., Pollack P. F., Lazar A. and Thakkar R. B. ‘52-week efficacy of adalimumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who failed corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants’. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 19 (8): 1700-9. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0b013e318281f2b7. July 2013.

5. Hicks C. W., Hodin R. A. and Bordeianou L. ‘Possible overuse of 3-stage procedures for active ulcerative colitis’. JAMA Surg. 148 (7): 658-64. doi: 10.1001/2013.jamasurg.325. July 2013.

6. Zhang L. C., Zhang S., Zhong W., Long J. X., Li X. N. and Chen L. S. ‘Observation on clinical effect of ZHUANG medicine mediated thread moxibustion combined with medication for patients with ulcerative colitis’. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 38 (5): 399-402. Oct 2013.

7. Huang L., Cai Z., Zhu Y. and Wan H. ‘Treatment of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency by kuijiening plaster: a randomized controlled study’. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 33 (7): 577-81. July 2013.

8. Kruis W. ‘Probiotics’. Dig Dis. 31 (3-4): 385-7. doi: 10.1159/000354706. 14 Nov 2013.

9. De Greef E., Vandenplas Y., Hauser B., Devreker T. and Veereman-Wauters G. ‘Probiotics and IBD’. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 76 (1): 15-9. Mar 2013.

Adrenal health, Adrenal supplements

Adrenal fatigue and insufficiency: how to avoid or put them right

There are many reasons why we get tired. Too little or bad sleep. Lots of hard work, family responsibilities and not enough relaxation. And many very specific medical conditions. Indeed, one of the latter causes that, to be frank, isn’t mentioned very often concerns the adrenal glands. Probably because many people aren’t actually aware of what the adrenal glands are and why they fatigue you and make you ill if things go wrong.

Every one of us has a pair of adrenal glands, each of which sits atop one of our kidneys in the abdomen region of the body. Along with the pancreas, parathyroid glands, ovaries/ testes, the pituitary glands and the thyroid, the adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, which overall ensures hormones are produced and spread throughout the body to regulate many critical functions. The adrenal glands themselves are pretty much as crucial a part of this system as any other constituent part, as they’re tasked with producing and overseeing hormones that regulate growth, development, fertility and metabolism.

Adrenal Fatigue or Adrenal Insufficiency?

Experts believe there are two conditions that can occur when things aren’t right with the adrenal glands; although not all experts agree enough scientific evidence exists to categorically declare the first of them, adrenal fatigue, is a definite phenomenon. The thinking behind it is that your energy is severely sapped thanks to chronic physical and/ or emotional stress negatively affecting the adrenal glands’ hormone output.

And it’s easy for the layman, as it were, to confuse adrenal fatigue with the other condition – adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease, as it’s just as commonly known. This aliment, thoroughly recognised by medical experts, sees the adrenal glands close down production of the hormones aldosterone (crucial for the regulation of blood pressure and salt levels) and cortisol (which also plays a pivotal role in controlling blood pressure, inflammatory responses and tackling stress). Affecting around one in 100,000 people, Addison’s disease is rare and is believed to be caused by pre-existing autoimmune disorders, as well as the likes of fungal infections, tuberculosis and certain cancers.

Adrenal Fatigue and Addison’s Disease – symptoms

So how do you know whether you’re suffering from either of these two conditions? Well, of course, you ought to seek the view of a medical professional for confirmation, but there are definitely identifiable symptoms. For adrenal fatigue, as you’d probably imagine, we’re talking the likes of struggling to remain awake and having trouble waking up, as well as cravings for salt and sugar and other foods. Overall, it’s said that sufferers of adrenal fatigue tend to feel tired all the time.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease are usually more extreme. Reduced appetite, feeling weak and weight loss are often just the beginning, often followed by nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting; the likes of dizziness, low blood pressure and darkening skin in scars and skin-folds are far from unusual1. If left untreated, Addison’s disease can be fatal and medical treatment can involve hormone replacements, owing to the lack of aldosterone and cortisol1.

Looking after your adrenal glands

As you may have gathered, given the reasons why you may develop Addison’s disease, it’s not necessarily easy to prevent (as it likely would have been caused by other things wrong with your body); however, we can all do our best to try and prevent adrenal fatigue. It’s all about keeping the endocrine system in balance and, should you be feeling stress for different reasons in life, you can work towards doing this by setting time aside to rest and look into ways to improve your sleep hygiene. Exercise is highly advised too – it’s actually not counter-intuitive if you’re feeling tired because it helps relax the body physically, in that it naturally decreases stress and the amount of cortisol pumping around the body2.

Diet too is an important area to focus on. It’s imperative to try and remove endocrine disruptors (chemicals found in food, as well as pesticides and some plastics) from your diet – if consumed in excess they can interfere with adrenal glands and hormones – and instead try to replace them with healthy foods rich in protein and whole grains, as well as organic fruit and vegetables. Foods like these that offer proper, natural nutrition will be much better for your endocrine system – and the rest of your body.

Adrenal Supplements

Another highly advised way to strive for optimal adrenal health is to augment an improved diet with natural supplements. The following – along with many more – are all suitable for improving and maintaining the well-being of the adrenal glands and are available through The Finchley Clinic:

Licorice FormulaLicorice Formula and Licorice Formula A – both are great botanical products designed to maintain healthy adrenal function, but the latter substitutes damiana for guarana/ Korean ginseng, which may be better for those that find the latter ingredients over-stimulating.

 

NADHNADH – a sophisticated cognitive formula that, by offering a delicate balance of brain circulation agents and neurotransmitter precursors to improve memory, mental clarity, concentration and focus, may well aid sufferers of chronic fatigue.

 

 

Adrenal SupportAdrenal Support – comprises a blend of vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrients and plant extracts to promote healthy adrenal function, especially during stressful periods of life.

 

 

References:

1. ‘Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison’s Disease)’. Pituitary Network Association. http://pituitary.org/knowledge-base/disorders/adrenal-insuffieciency-addison-s-disease.

2. Alghadir A. H. and Gabr S. A. ‘Physical activity and environmental influences on adrenal fatigue of Saudi adults: biochemical analysis and questionnaire survey’. J Phys Ther Sci. 27 (7): 2045-51. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.2045. July 2015.

Bio-Acidophilus Forte Plus, Optibac Probiotics for Babies & Children, Probiotics, Threelac

Brilliant probiotics: food and supplements full of beneficial gut bacteria

Don’t be deceived, not all bacteria’s the same; not all bacteria’s bad. Yes, bacteria gets a bad rap, but that’s the ‘bad’ bacteria, which definitely isn’t healthy when it’s consumed via food or fluids and gets into your digestive and other systems. The other kind of bacteria is the ‘good’ type, which is just the opposite – it possesses much sought-after health-giving properties; one of which is to balance out the amount of ‘bad’ bacteria in your intestines (and hopefully tip the balance in its favour).

One of the most commonly consumed forms of good bacteria is probiotics. A select number of live bacteria and yeast groups that have unquestioned health benefits, probiotics are especially prevalent in the digestive system – specifically the intestines (which is why, like their bad bacteria counterparts there, they’re referred to as ‘gut bacteria’). It’s here then where they’re healthy-do-gooding proves critical to the overall body and the wellbeing of its owner, given the fact that so many of our common-day chronic ailments actually kick-off in this part of the body. How they do is this is by stimulating the natural enzymes and processes in the gut to ensure the digestive organs keep working well; and in turn, nullifying the harmful effects of bad gut bacteria.

Probiotic Foods

So how exactly can you top up the health-enhancing live bacteria residing in your gut? Well, the ideal way is to pepper your diet with organic, probiotic-rich foods:

  •  Kefir – a fermented dairy product that features goat’s milk, along with kefir grains; it also offers Lactobacilli and bifidus bacteria, as well as terrifically health-enhancing antioxidants1
  •  Kimchi – you may never have heard of it, but the experts maintain that this Asian-cuisine pickled sauerkraut is one of the best sources for probiotics; offering a delicious spicy smack of a taste, it contains lashings of good bacteria, Vitamins B and C, beta-carotene, calcium, fibre, iron and potassium2
  •  Live-cultured yoghurt – often this kind of yoghurt made with nutrient- and protein-rich goat’s milk (especially if it’s infused with additional probiotics such as lactobacillus and acidophilus) is great for gut bacteria, not least as goat’s milk possesses lower allergenicity and tends to be easier to digest than cow’s milk3; try to avoid yoghurts that count additives among their ingredients, though
  •  Miso soup – a favourite of Japanese cuisine, this tasty concoction is derived from rice/ barley, beans and fermented rye; merely add a tablespoon of the stuff to hot water and you’ve a quick soup packed with bifidus bacteria and lactobacilli
  •  Pickled vegetables – a mainstay in Western food for centuries, the humbled pickled cucumber or onion (or practically any pickled vegetable, for that matter) offers a roster of probiotic potential5; they may take some time to prepare and be ready to eat, but if you like the taste they’re well worth the effort
  •  Sauerkraut – a German dish made from fermented cabbage, sauerkraut may not sound the most appetising, but initial impressions can be deceptive when it comes to foods and how they taste; it’s also resplendent in live cultures and Vitamins A, B, C and K
  •  Tempeh – great for vegetarians (for whom it can be a meat- of tofu-substitute), this fermented grain is derived from soybeans7 and contains lots of Vitamin B128; sauté, bake or add this low-salt foodstuff to salads.

Probiotic Supplements

Now, fair dos, should your palate be rather ‘Western’ when it comes to cuisine, then two or three of the probiotic-rich options above may not leave you salivating. How else to boost the good bacteria levels in your gut then? Well, there’s supplementation, of course – and, as ever, natural is the way to go here over synthetic supplements. The following – among many more (check the ‘Probiotics’ section on our website) – are all available via The Finchley Clinic:

ThreelacThreelac– comprises three separate forms of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus sporogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecalis) to purge the intestinal tract of the parasitic Candida yeast and push out harmful dysbiotic microorganisms; similar to its sister product Fivelac.

 

Bio Acidophilus Forte 60 capsulesBio-Acidophilus Forte Plus – a high-strength probiotic product that contains 75 billion viable organisms per capsule, including acidophilus and bifidum in a base of fructo-oligosaccharides.

 

Optibac Probiotics EXTRA Strength 90 capsOptibac Probiotics For Every Day Extra Strength – offers 20 billion live micro-organisms per capsule, with five probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM; may well aid your digestion and immunity and boost your energy.

 

References:

1. Prado M. R. et al. ‘Milk Kefir: Composition, Microbial Cultures, Biological Activities, and Related Products’. Frontiers in Microbiology. 6: 1177. PMC. 30 Oct 2015.

2. Peacock J. ‘Kimchi, the Korean Superfood’. Eat Smart Move More. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 9 May 2014.

3. Damunupola D. A. P. R. et al. ‘Evaluation of Quality Characteristics of Goat Milk Yogurt Incorporated with Beetroot Juice’. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications. vol. 4, no. 10. Oct. 2014.

34. Fujisawa T. et al. ‘Effect of Miso Soup Containing Natto on the Composition and Metabolic Activity of the Human Faecal Flora’. Microbial Ecology in Health & Disease, vol. 18, no. 2. 1 June 2006.

Supplier of Natural Health Supplements for candida management and colon cleansing