Anti-ageing, Green Magma, MSM, OREA

Living life the natural way: anti-ageing diet and supplement solutions

Here’s the bad news: there’s no fountain of youth and, equally, there’s no silver bullet for ageing. As time goes on, we all get older and we all physically age – it’s an inevitable, irreversible fact of life. However, the way you live your life can help minimize the effects of the ageing process as much as is possible. How you live your life – exercising regularly, adopting a good diet and possibly taking the right supplements – can keep your body as fighting fit as it can be while the years pass. To that end then, if you want to call this ‘anti-ageing’, there are things you can do to put it into action.

To start with, your approach should be one of psychology; of perspective. Don’t look on your body as an ageing mass of organs and limbs held together by ever more sagging skin; instead love your body, as the saying goes. Look on it as the well-oiled, incredible machine it is. Many people think of their homes or their cars as their pride of joy; they want them to look as impressive and pleasant and operate as effectively as possible. Why shouldn’t you do the same when it comes to your own body?

An Anti-Ageing Diet

So what does this all mean when it comes to diet? Simple: good nutrition. A person a few years older than someone else is likely to possess a digestion system that’s not quite as efficient. But often this is as much down to diet and lifestyle as to age; too many years of not eating as healthily as you might and not getting all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients possible – and, yes, not getting as much physical activity as you can; no doubt not as much as your youngers self.

But the good news is that exercising more and making positive changes to your diet go hand-in-hand. The more active you are the hungrier you’ll be and the bigger your appetite, while the better you eat the more energetic and positive you’ll feel and, thus, the more up for getting outside and exercising regularly you’ll doubtless become.

As you may have expected, high-quality, organic fruits and vegetables are the way forward, along with healthy proteins and fats, a number of dairy products, whole grain foods and often less salt1.

More specifically, here are some great food ideas for introducing more nutrition to your diet:

  •  Blueberries – truly tasty and packed full of Vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants to combat the likes of harmful free radicals
  •  Broccoli – once declared the healthiest food of all (however that’s actually measured, of course), this vegetable’s chock-full of vitamins, antioxidants and fibre
  •  Fatty fish – we’re talking the likes of sardines, salmon and mackerel here, all of which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent for helping to stave off the threat of heart disease and stroke
  •  Fibre – it’s important to get enough fibre generally from your diet to lower blood pressure, inflammation and cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes, as well as ease constipation; that means, in addition to vegetables, throwing into the mix foods like whole grains, bran-based cereals and brown or wholegrain rice
  •  Nuts – also packed with fibre, as well as protein, healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fats, nuts make for very heart-healthy food
  •  Olive oil – research from as recent as 2013 suggests that those who regularly consume extra virgin olive oil may see a major reduction in ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL), while their health-enhancing ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) levels may rise
  •  Tomatoes – blessed with lycopene (the phytochemical that makes them red), adding to your diet enough tomatoes may help to prevent the development of both prostate and lung cancer; cooking or mashing your tomatoes may even release more lycopene, experts believe
  •  Yogurt – often a good source of calcium, yoghurt is a food whose contents help to reduce bone-loss as you age; if it’s fortified in Vitamin D, then all the better.

Finally, don’t overlook the incredible health benefits – and, thus, importance to anti-ageing – of water. It may not seem that exciting or exotic, but water remains the most important thing we can put in our bodies (so long as it’s pure and filtered), basically because our bodies are so reliant on it; up to 60% of the human body’s actually made up of water. For instance, drinking more water than you usually do may result in some simple but stark, positive benefits; such as feeling less fatigued, suffering fewer headaches, being able to concentrate for longer and feeling less constipated1. Why? Because these things are all symptoms of dehydration – so stay hydrated, whatever your age!

Anti-Ageing Supplements

As has been hopefully made clear, altering your diet and undertaking decent, regular exercise can work wonders when it comes to staving off the full effects of physical ageing (and the ailments that come with it). Yet, for some, doing these two things isn’t as easy as for others; plus, other people may wish to go the extra mile. In both cases, taking the supplementation route for anti-ageing’s highly advised. The following natural supplements – and many more – can be bought through The Finchley Clinic:

Green Magma 312gGreen Magma (Barley Grass Powder) – a ‘green food’ alkalising powder, this product comprises more than 20 enzymes, as well as a whole host of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, ensuring it aids digestion and detoxification.

 

MSM 500MSM – methylsolfonylmethane (MSM) is believed to help skin, hair and nail growth, enhance connective tissues and joint function, improve enzyme activity, maintain hormone balance and keep the immune system functioning effectively.

 

ZNatural 60mlORËÁ (formerly ZNatural) – taken daily, this supplement can successfully detoxify and cleanse the body, permeating the kidneys and other organs, blood, glands and cellular tissue and supporting the body’s own natural immune defence and disease resistance systems.

 

Reference:

1. Donovan J. ‘Best Foods for Your Anti-Ageing Diet’. Webmd.com. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/anti-aging-diet#1. Last reviewed: 24 Aug 2016.

Antioxidant Supreme, BioCare Reduced Glutathione, Glutathione, Immune health, Liposomal Glutathione

Glorious glutathione: ace antioxidant, detoxifier and immunity booster

You may not be aware of it, but there’s a substance – available as a supplement – that’s said not just to act as an effective antioxidant and an efficient detoxifier, but also a first-rate immunity booster. The blurb’s in no doubt that glutathione’s the bee’s knees; it can aid the body in its efforts to put right damage from ageing, infection, injury, pollution, radiation, stress and trauma. But can it really do all this? Is it really that good?

Well, tiny molecule though it is, some experts believe that glutathione is the most important – and one of the most effective – antioxidants in the entire human body because it naturally likes to reside in every cell1. This means that when the body has to fight infection, repair damage from injuries or burns and tackle the ageing process, glutathione is right there on hand to get on with the job; it’s already on the front line, as it were, in the body’s cells where the work has to be done.

Not least in the cells of the immune system, of course, whose responsibility it is to fight infection and disease and prevent the body from getting ill from them in the first place – as much as possible1. Moreover, it’s believed glutathione plays an important role in aiding the liver to extract harmful chemicals like drugs and pollutants1.

Antioxidant Function

A naturally occurring amino acid, glutathione tends to play a pivotal antioxidant role in not just humans, but plants, fungi, animals and a number of bacteria and archaea (single-celled micro-organisms). Throughout the planet’s flora and fauna then it’s called on to deploy its antioxidant properties to neutralise damaging reactive oxygen species like peroxides, lipid peroxides, heavy metals and free radicals2.

Free radicals are, of course, the single-electron molecules that can notoriously cause havoc in the cells of human bodies, searching for other molecules for another electron with which to pair their own. Thus, as glutathione already exists in the cells it gets immediately and importantly called on to do this work. Some of the best known and most effective antioxidants are Vitamins C and E, but as the experts point out, it only seems fair to add glutathione to this list.

Further Benefits

Thanks to its properties and propensity for locating itself inside cells, glutathione – as mentioned above – can have a big positive effect on your overall health. Its antioxidant, detoxifying and immunity-boosting nature is believed to ensure it throws itself into battling practically any infection or disease, especially those that have anything to do with the ageing process (free radicals can cause many old age-related diseases, after all)1. Indeed, medical professionals have called on people to consume additional glutathione for a roster of major conditions; the likes of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cataracts, high blood pressure, infertility and Parkinson’s disease1.

Moreover, it’s generally acknowledged that severe, life-threatening conditions, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), can be in part treated by boosting the glutathione levels in the body; as you may have guessed, an AIDS sufferer is bound to have depleted levels of the substance, among the many other issues and symptoms they face1. Right now, the reasons why glutathione levels plummet in this scenario aren’t clear and understood, but experts are in no doubt of the substance’s critical role in maintaining intracellular health; in other words, glutathione benefits ensure cells run smoothly and efficiently.

Glutathione Sources – Diet and Supplements

As you’d have guessed, glutathione’s abundance in the cells of so much flora and fauna means it occurs naturally in many types of food, especially organic fruits and vegetables. Thus, those who maintain a balanced, high quality diet are likely to receive the right sort of glutathione levels from their food. However, if you find yourself suffering from one of the aforementioned illnesses, conditions or diseases associated with deficiency of the substance, then you might well conclude that natural supplementation to boost your levels makes for a sensible, effective course of action.

There are a number of well-regarded glutathione supplements on the market, two of the very best, both available through us at The Finchley Clinic, are:

liposomal-glutathioneLiposomal Glutathione – one of a new class of bio-available supplements produced using nano-particle technology (which ensures much higher absorption of its contents than that of similar supplements); supports detoxification, immune and skin health.

 

Reduced_GlutathioneBioCare Reduced Glutathione– comprises a reduced form of the amino acid; some believe that in its reduced form glutathione’s more biologically active.

 

 

References:

1. ‘Glutathione: New Supplement on the block’. Webmd.com. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/glutathione-new-supplement-on-block#1. 30 July 2001.

2. Pompella A., Visvikis A., Paolicchi A., Tata V. and Casini A. F. ‘The changing faces of glutathione, a cellular protagonist’. Biochemical Pharmacology. 66 (8): 1499–503. doi: 10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00504-5. Oct 2003.

BioMulsion Joint Guard, Collaflex Gold, Joint Health, Liposomal Vitamin D3/K3

Joined-up thinking for joints: exercise, diets and supplementation

One of the unalterable truths of our lives is that we all get older. Like it or not, as the years pass we have to take more care of our physical selves because our bodies age; the cells within them aren’t replaced when they die as much as in our younger years. And this is no truer than when it comes to our joints.

Joints are the connections between our bodies’ bones, as such it’s thanks to them we’re able to move – bending our arms at the elbow and legs at the knees, bend our backs, turn our heads and move our fingers and toes. Each joint features cartilage and synovium, along with the lubricant that’s synovial fluid, ensuring that two bones meeting at a joint don’t rub together and damage each other.

It’s here, however, that advancing years prove a problem; as we age it becomes easier to tear and wear out cartilage, damaging the joints and potentially leading to the onset of arthritis. Not a pleasant prospect. How best to preserve the health of your joints then and keep them working effectively?

Watch your weight

Sadly, it’s impossible to prevent the ageing process, but we can all take other steps that’ll help our joints (and general health); one of which is to try to ensure we don’t become overweight or even obese. This is because it’s the joints that take much of the stress of our weight when we move, especially in the knees, hips and back.

Many issues that people have with their joints can be traced to carrying too much weight. To that end then, losing weight can be a simple way to reduce potential joint injury – indeed, studies suggest that as many as four times the normal level of stress is felt by a joint for every extra pound in weight a body gains

Stay in shape

Another straightforward, if unsurprising way to help your joints is to take up regular physical exercise, not least as it can help you to lose extra pounds, of course. Indeed, it’s believed that throwing yourself into aerobic exercise – which momentarily increases your heart-rate – is a good way to reduce swelling of the joints1. That said, if your joints are actually giving you pain then low-impact aerobic exercise, such as bicycling or swimming, are a good step forward.

When you stop and think about it, though, the idea of getting up and doing some exercise makes sense. Our bodies are physical entities; they need to be (mildly) put through their paces to work effectively – just like doing a Sudoku game for mental exercise. Sitting still for much of your life does no good for your body and it simply leads to stiffness in the joints; in fact, those who lead such sedentary lifestyles are among the most at-risk groups for developing joint pain as they age.

So, even if you can’t exercise as much as you’d really like to, be sure to get up and walk about the office, don’t slouch and adopt good posture when sitting in your office chair and when lifting and carrying. Plus, take the stairs instead of the lift as often as you can at work and don’t pass up the opportunity to take the dog for a brisk walk. The body will doubtless thank you for it!

Dietary Tips

Less obvious, perhaps, is the fact that eating certain foods and avoiding others can also promote good joint health. A generally healthy diet is a great start, as it – along with all the other benefits for your body – helps to ensure your bones and muscles grow and remain strong throughout your life. Bone-wise, as you may well know, calcium-rich foods get a big up-tick; dairy products are obviously a good source here, but so too are organic vegetables and fruits like broccoli, figs and kale.

As far as the muscles go, protein is key – aside from lean meats and seafood, for vegetarians then, options include the likes of quinoa, legumes, soy products, buckwheat and a variety of different beans, rice and nuts. Moreover, ensuring your body’s getting enough Vitamin D is important too, as it’s this nutrient that plays a pivotal role in the absorption of calcium from food so it can be used throughout the body1. Some sources suggest that Vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients are important for maintaining the health of joints as well

Supplements for Joint Health

For some people, altering their diet – especially as they get older and because of other potential health issues – isn’t always easy. And for others getting an adequate amount of regular exercise may prove a challenge too. Help here can be found in natural supplementation. Indeed, do your research; you may find that the following supplements for joints – all available from The Finchley Clinic – suit you well; we sell more besides:

BioMulsion JointGuardBioMulsion Joint Guard – an emulsified pure fish oil concentrate, which contains Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine hydrochloride, Vitamin E and ginger oil; designed to help maintain the health and flexibility of joints.


High-Strength-Collagen-180-tabletsCollaflex Gold (formerly known as High Strength Collagen) – a pure marine-derived collagen that may aid the slowing of the aging process on the joints.



D3 with K2 Liposomal Vitamin D3/K3  – we believe this is  the best, most absorbable liposomal vitamin D3 product (with added Vitamin K3) available in Europe.



Reference:

1. ‘Taking Care of Your Joints’. Webmd.com. http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/caring-your-joints#1. Reviewed: 23 Jan 2016.

Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamins & Minerals

Magnificent Magnesium: An Essential Super Nutrient

If you’re someone who’s nutrient deficient then you’re in for bad news. It’s because you’re consuming vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in the right quantities and to the right levels why you may get ill and not feel at your best a good deal of the time. If you seem to get ill more often than other people, it could well be because you’re nutrient deficient.

But how do you know for sure? And how do you know which nutrient – or nutrients – you’re deficient in? Well, that’s a bit tricky to ascertain, as lacking enough of a specific nutrient would likely be revealed by very specific symptoms – but then there are crossovers that suggest you may be lacking in another nutrient.

All that said, though, one of the leading nutrient deficiencies in adults is of magnesium, which isn’t that surprising given the roster of important things that magnesium’s responsible for in the human body; at least 300 different biochemical functions, in fact, that see it play pivotal roles in heartbeat rhythm regulation, energy production, enzyme and neurotransmitter function and the balancing of nitric oxide levels.

In fact, it’s estimated that as many as eight in 10 adults are deficient in this vital mineral; believe it or not. How do you know if you’re not getting enough magnesium through your diet? Clues could be if you tend to experience muscle aches and/ or spasms, poor sleep and digestion and anxiety and exaggerated worry. Yet, again, from this it would be hard to pinpoint you’re definitely lacking in magnesium, as they’re rather general symptoms – to that end, it’s best to check with a doctor or medical professional.

Not Enough Magnesium – What happens?

So much for what magnesium does in the body, but when it’s not present in high enough levels, what conditions can its absence help cause? The list’s a long one – underlining just how crucial the nutrient is to us:

  •  Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma or multiple sclerosis owing to peroxynitrite damage1
  •  cardiovascular disease and hypertension1
  •  damage to the kidneys and liver 1
  •  impotence1
  •  increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms1
  •  mood swings and potential behavioural disorders1
  •  osteoporosis1
  •  recurrent bacteria- or fungal-based infections1
  •  restless leg syndrome1

How can you Boost your Magnesium Intake?

<style=”text-align: justify;”>It’s often said that increasing your magnesium levels via supplementation may cause disruption of your body’s nutrient balance. The thinking here goes that, because (in spite of its importance) we need relatively little magnesium compared to other vitamins and minerals, consuming large, regular amounts of magnesium could create an imbalance.

To that end, ideally one should seek to get their adequate helping of magnesium from their diet – along with all their other required vitamins and minerals – and foods that are rich in magnesium and advised for widening your diet include vegetables like avocados, bananas, black beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mung beans, potatoes, spinach and Swiss chard, as well as nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews and pumpkin seeds2.

And yet, if for whatever reason, you’re incapable of altering your diet to include a fair number of such foods then the expert thinking is that natural supplementation’s an effective way to overcome Magnesium deficiency. This in no small part is because of, in addition to magnesium’s health-giving properties, its relationship with other nutrients in the body such as calcium – it’s thought that taking magnesium supplementation has the handy, added bonus of counterbalancing levels of calcium, should you also be taking supplements of the latter on a regular basis2.

Plus, if you go the magnesium supplement route it’s also likely to be of benefit if you find you tend to rely on antibiotics to beat infections (although, of course, other natural supplements may help you to avoid infections in the first place!). Why? Well, heavy antibiotic use may result in damaging your digestive tract to the extent that magnesium isn’t absorbed from nutrient-rich foods2. Something to think about.

Magnesium Supplements

The following magnesium-based supplements are all available from The Finchley Clinic:

True Food MagnesiumTrue Food Magnesium –  Offers a highly bioavailable, potent food form of magnesium for enhanced absorption.


Magnesium Malate 120Magnesium Malate – Provides 100mg elemental magnesium per capsule, as well as Malic acid.


Vitamin C 500mg capsuleBioCare Vitamin C – A Magnesium Ascorbate supplement that provides Vitamin C as well as magnesium, in addition to bilberry extract which comprises flavonoids, a potent source of antioxidants.


References:

1. Johnson S. ‘The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency’. Med Hypotheses. 56 (2): 163-70. Feb 2001.

2. ‘Should you be taking magnesium supplements?’. https://draxe.com/magnesium-supplements.

Colon cleansing, Digestive Enzyme, Fivelac, Threelac, Thyme Formula

Beating the Beastly Yeast: how to tackle Candida the natural way

If you live in the United States and, while watching, hearing or reading the news, you perk up whenever health issues are mentioned, you’ll surely be aware of the drug-resistant illness that in the last few weeks has infected more than 75 people in the US1. Affecting – and potentially damaging – the bloodstream, wounds and ears, it’s predicted (in the very worst case scenario) to cause organ failure, especially for the most ‘at risk’ category; among them diabetics, premature babies and those on paralysis or with weak immunity1.

That’s because it’s an outbreak of Candida auris, one of the broad family of Candida yeasts, many of which (should they get out of control when inside the human body and result in ‘Candida overgrowth’) can cause serious ongoing health issues. In fact, since 2013, outbreaks of Candida auris have been reported in 14 separate countries, including the UK – yes, it’s not just a nasty thing confined to the US, unfortunately1.

Candida – the beastly yeast?

Highlighting these recent infections of this particularly unpleasant Candida strain shows just how common it doing us ill actually is – in fact, so common is Candida that on occasions most people probably don’t realise it’s the cause for them feeling below par or very ill. A wide array of Candida species (the most common of which is probably Candida alcibans2, 3) can cause us real trouble if they’re allowed free roam in our bodies – potentially fungal infections like candidiasis, candidemia and oral flush4.

Yet the truth is that when the Candida levels in your body (most pertinently in the skin and the mucous membranes of the gut and vagina) are kept in check, thanks to a healthy immune system, Candida is very rarely a problem. Indeed, different strains of Candida are among the organisms that a new-born baby will acquire from their mother via birth or through breastfeeding or early food5 – moreover, one specific species, Candida cylindracea, supports effective digestion owing to the positive enzymatic properties and pH levels it possesses6.

Candida overgrowth – symptoms and causes

However, should Candida be allowed to run riot in parts of your body and multiply to the extent it results in overgrowth, perhaps the most immediate consequence is that it’ll imbalance and disrupt the body’s gut microbiota. This is when the balance of bacteria in the intestines tips hazardously in favour of ‘bad bacteria’ and harmful micro-organisms like Candida over ‘good bacteria’ and health-preserving probiotics.

As a result of this then, Candida overgrowth effects can regularly include gastrointestinal (and gastrointestinal-related) issues like abdominal pains, indigestion and excessive gas; irritability, tiredness and trouble concentrating; anxiety and mood swings; skin infections, eczema, psoriasis and acne; oral or vaginal thrush7 and promotion of leaky gut syndrome8. Moreover, overgrowth can see Candida-derived problems occur all over the body, thanks to the yeast potentially infecting the blood, genitals, skin and the throat and oesophagus9, 10.

But what about the causes? Well, some of the most common and guilty of Candida promoters are:

  • Weakened immunity – unfortunately, a large number of medical conditions and medications can weaken the immune system11, 12, 13
  • Antibiotics – attack all bacteria (‘good’ as well as ‘bad’), thus upsetting the gut microbiota balance and allowing Candida to thrive4
  • Diabetes – a hallmark of diabetes, high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia), inhibits the immune system and the digestive and urinary systems4, 14
  • Alcohol – chronic alcohol drinking can lead to the growth of certain Candida species
  • Other potential causes include kidney failure and haemodialysis treatment; organ transplantation; poor diet and pregnancy15, 16

Tackling Candida

Thankfully, should you suspect – and especially if you have it confirmed by a medical professional – that you’re suffering from Candida overgrowth, there’s certainly something you can do about it. Your best advised treatment is a natural remedy – and why not in the shape of easy-to-take and highly effective supplements? All three of the following and many more are available through The Finchley Clinic (indeed, check out the ‘Candida Cleansing’ section of our website for all the Candida supplements we sell)…

Threelac

Threelac – a probiotic that’s revered for managing candida and yeast infections, containing three forms of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria that work to purge your intestinal tract of parasites and dysbiotic microorganisms; also highly recommended is its sister product Fivelac.

Active-Digestive-Enzymes

Active Digestive Enzymes – actually designed to be taken in conjunction with Threelac and may help a Candida-focused cleanse by improving food absorption to reduce the amount of ‘food’ such parasites feed on in the tract.

thyme-formula

Thyme Formula and Thyme Formula A – botanical products specifically designed to help manage Candida overgrowth throughout the body.

 

References:

1. Whyte C. ‘Deadly, drug-resistant Candida yeast infection spreads in the US’. newscientist.com. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2125283-deadly-drug-resistant-candida-yeast-infection-spreads-in-the-us/. 20 March 2017.

2. Kim J. and Sudbery P. ‘Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen’. J Microbiol. April 2011; 49 (2): 171-7.

3. ‘Candidiasis’. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/. Last update: 6 Oct 2016.

4. ‘Candida infection of the skin’. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000880.htm. Review date: 12 July 2014.

5. Jenkinson H. F. and Douglas L. J. ‘Chapter 18 Interactions between Candida Species and Bacteria in Mixed Infections. Polymicrobial Diseases’. Washington (DC): ASM Press. 2002.

6. Fieker A., Philpott J. and Armand M. ‘Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future’. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2011; 4: 55–73.

7. Global Health Trax. ghthealth.com. 2016.

8. Schulz J. and Sonnenborn U. ‘Yeasts in the Gut: From Commensals to Infectious Agents’. Dtsch Arztebl Int. Dec 2009. 106 (51-52): 837–842.

9. ‘Yeast Infections’. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/yeastinfections.html.

10. Aubyn G. and Tagoe D. ‘Prevalence of vaginal infections and associated lifestyles of students in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana’. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. Aug 2013; 3(4): 267–270.

11. Maksymiuk A. W., Thongprasert S., Hopfer R., Luna M., Fainstein V. and Bodey G. P. ‘Systemic candidiasis in cancer patients’. Am J Med. Oct 1984; 77 (4D): 20-7.

12. Fichtenbaum C. and Aberg J. ‘Candidiasis and HIV’. HIV InSite. http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-00&doc=kb-05-02-03. Feb 2006.

13. ‘Medications that Weaken Your Immune System and Fungal Infections’. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/infections/immune-system.html. Last update: 25 Jan 2016.

14. Casqueiro J., Casqueiro J. and Alves C. ‘Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis’. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. Mar 2012; 16 (Suppl1): S27–S36.

15. ‘Invasive Candidiasis Risk & Prevention’. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/invasive/risk-prevention.html. Last update: 2 March 2016.

Digestive Enzyme Supplements, Immune health, Leaky Gut, Women’s health

Leaky Gut – What is It and How Should You Treat It?

What is it?

Many health practitioners believe leaky gut syndrome – or intestinal permeability – can happen when undigested particles pass through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream1.

Leaky gut can be caused by:

  • Candida overgrowth and dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance in the gut)1
  • Chronic stress1
  • Poor diet1
  • Toxin overload1.

What happens?

These undigested objects – toxins and germs – cause inflammation and affect the gut wall’s permeability (‘leaky gut’), initiating an immune response1. Leaky gut has been closely associated with the following conditions:

  • Adrenal fatigue2
  • Arthritis2
  • Autoimmune disease2
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome3
  • Depression and anxiety2
  • Eczema (and other skin issues)2
  • Hypothyroidism2
  • Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)2
  • Nutrient malabsorption2.

What can you do?

Diet

First of all, you’re advised to reduce or – better – avoid sugary foods and gluten. Instead, consider introducing into your diet:

  • Anti-inflammatory foods – beets, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, celery, chia seeds, coconut oil, flaxseeds, ginger, green leafy vegetables, pineapples, turmeric and walnuts4
  • Fermented vegetables – kimchi, kvass and sauerkraut2
  • Omega oils – linseed oil and Omega 3:6:9 Balance oil
  • Raw cultured dairy – amasai, kefir, yogurt and some butters and cheeses2.

Supplementation

And why not consider supplements?

The Finchley Clinic provides the following food supplements which can help ease leaky gut and reduce food intolerance:

  • Aloe Gold Natural (1,000ml and 485ml) – may help healthy digestion, immunity and skin
  • Colostrum Plus (120 capsules) – also for gastritis, intestinal candida and food allergies
  • Glutamine (100g, 200g and 90 capsules) – ideal for healing troubled guts
  • Mindlinx (60 capsules) – supports healthy function of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Permatrol (90 capsules) – includes intestinal-supportive nutrients like L-glutamine, N-acetyl glucosamine and probiotic bacteria
  • Restore (32floz, 16floz and 8floz) – works to restore the tight junctions of the gut
  • Slippery Elm Intensive (75g) – also contains gamma oryzanol, licorice, marshmallow and aloe vera extracts, combining to support gut permeability.
Kidney cleanse, Kidney Health

Keep your kidneys cleansed: how to look after these crucial organs

Many of us know what the different organs in the abdominal region of the body do. The stomach holds food; the intestines see food progress as it’s processed; the liver critically helps remove toxins and the pancreas produces crucial enzymes and hormones like insulin. Fine; but what do the kidneys do? And, to that end then, why’s it so important we look after them? Our kidneys are those two bean-shaped organs that sit either side of the spine against the back muscles of the upper abdominal cavity – and they do a number of very important things. In removing waste from the blood, they help balance the body’s fluids (via regulating sodium, water and acidity/ alkalinity balance) and create urine – in other words, waste water to be let out of the body1. Moreover, in carrying out their wider functions, the kidneys are also responsible for the regulation of the hormones and enzymes that manage blood pressure.

Unhealthy kidneys mean an unhealthy you

Taking into account the above then, you certainly don’t need to be a genius to realise that maintaining good kidney health is pretty darn important to ensure your body runs as effectively as possible – and you yourself remain fit and healthy. But just in case you’re not convinced, here are some of the things that, should your kidneys get into trouble, will ensure you get into trouble too:

  • Kidney stones – the obvious one; a far from unusual urinary tract disorder that at least one in 10 people in the US alone suffer from2
  • Kidney disease – can be caused by both high blood pressure and diabetes; more US citizens die from it than from prostate and breast cancer combined2
  • Body water imbalance – a symptom of toxic kidneys, it appears to contribute to the likes of stress, paranoia, muscle shakes and even panics attacks. 

Cleansing means healthy kidneys

So how can you keep your kidneys – and, in turn, of course – yourself as healthy as possible? Well, helping your kidneys to cleanse themselves of all the toxins and harmful micro-organisms that might find their way into them is your best course of action. Through cleansing you can ensure, among many other things, they purify your blood effectively – some estimates say up to 60 times a day. But don’t worry; it doesn’t require anything painful or drastic – in fact, the best way to do a cleanse is to focus primarily on diet, consuming the right foods and drink and eschewing non-kidney-friendly ones. First off, staying hydrated is hugely important, as so often when it comes to keeping healthy. That means drinking plenty of pure, filtered water each day2. On top of this, you should look to eat:

  • Leafy, raw vegetables2, while organic fresh fruit rich in low-sugars is also recommended like apples and grapes (the latter comprise antioxidants to support detoxification and are well known for helping to flush out the ‘system’)
  • Nuts and seeds, cinnamon, olive oil and berries2 – especially cranberries as they contain quinine, which becomes hippuric acid in the body and aids removal of urea and uric acid from the kidneys
  • And be sure to get some exercise outdoors and take in the fresh air2

You should avoid:

  • Consuming too much alcohol and caffeine (or better, cut them out entirely) and try to quit smoking2
  • Eating a lot of rhubarb and chocolate – like it or not, they can may help your calcium oxalate levels to rise, supporting kidney stone formation.2 

Supplements for cleansing

In some cases, you may find it difficult to alter your diet exactly as you’d like to include the aforementioned kidney-cleansing foods. Help is at hand, though, via natural supplementation that supports and thoroughly promotes the process. For example, the following kidney supplements can be bought through us at The Finchley Clinic, along with many more:

Green Magma

 

Green Magma (Barley Grass Powder) – great for cleansing the kidneys, detoxifying the body and maintaining its acid/ alkaline balance, this product constitutes a genuine ‘green food’ (it’s grown in the fertile soil of Japan)

ORËA

 

 

ORËA (formerly ZNatural) – taken daily, it can successfully detoxify and cleanse the body, permeating the kidneys and other organs, blood, glands and cellular tissue and supporting the body’s own natural immune defence and disease resistance systems

Dandelion Formula

 

Dandelion Formula – helps the kidneys to stimulate urine production and, containing as it does the likes of turmeric and ginger, it may also help healthy liver function; alternatively you may opt for High Strength Ginger, which in addition to aiding the kidneys may also relieve indigestion, gas pains, diarrhoea and stomach cramping.

References:

1. Healthline Medical Team. ‘Body Maps – Kidneys’. Healthline.com. http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/kidney. Last reviewed: 12 Dec 2014.

2. Global Healing Center. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/renaltrex-kidney-cleanse.html#4.

Colon cleansing, Livatrex, Mag O7, Oxy-Powder, Oxygen Colon Cleansers

Aim High Not Low: How to Improve Your Metabolism

So you’re feeling a little frazzled, a bit tired, even a tad run down? Doesn’t everyone now and then? Well, a lot of people do, but equally, it may be preventable. There could be a reason why, on top of leading a busy working, family and social life as you may do, you feel physically exhausted now and again. It may be because you’re not looking after your body and maintaining your metabolism as you well as you might.

Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur in the body, not least digestion and the transport of food and energy to and between different cells. And it’s to understand this process – and what you are eating and how you lead your life – as to why you have a ‘high metabolism’ (you digest food and can use it as energy relatively quickly) or a ‘low metabolism’ (your body takes longer to digest food and use it as energy). In a good number cases, the lower a person’s metabolism, the more likely they’ll feel physically tired; the higher the metabolism, vice versa.

Low metabolism – why?

Of course, you use energy from the food you eat and burn fat while you’re physically active, but in reality, you also do so when you’re at rest. And it’s this that essentially defines the kind of metabolism you have, as it’s when you’re at rest your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is measured for how quickly and effectively you burn fat. To that end then, should you realise your BMR is slow and that may ensure why you feel tired too much of the time, there are several reasons why it might be:

  • Diet – all those fatty, processed, sugary foods are doing you no good whatsoever
  • Dieting – yes, that’s right; dieting tends to do little to help your metabolism because low calorie diets force your body into ‘starvation mode’, thus slowing the metabolism down as it attempts to preserve calories instead of burning them; note that when you resume eating after the diet it’ll preserve the calories still – but as fat
  • Sleep hygiene – your body won’t process food and use energy efficiently if you’re not sleeping well and are exhausted
  • Pressure and stress – stress brings on the production of the cortisol hormone which, unfortunately, eventually contributes to body fat
  • Toxicity in the body – toxins and ‘free radicals’ slow down your metabolic rate because, while the body’s converting food into energy, it’s also fighting  hard to eradicate such harmful molecules and micro-organisms
  • Medical factors – weight gain can result from thyroid and adrenal issues and family genetics, thus inevitably slowing down your metabolism (especially as you age).

High metabolism – how?

So to ensure a healthy metabolism what should you be doing? First off, start exercising. It needn’t be difficult; sure, it may be challenging to start with, but say you exercise every day for 10 minutes; eventually you’ll get used to it and, in time, find it relatively easy to slowly increase the amount to 12 minutes, then 15 and then 20. And exercise at work too. Be sure to get up from your desk and walk about every once in a while (preferably up and down stairs) and walk the dog daily if possible. Incorporating such short bursts of energy-use throughout the day will help keep your metabolism ticking over.

And then there’s your diet, of course; this has a huge impact on your metabolism. Indeed, after a night’s sleep (when it naturally slows down), try to start the morning by eating a fresh fruit-based breakfast first-thing, kicking off the day with a boost to the metabolism so you start burning calories as soon as possible – and aim to keep on doing so throughout the rest of the day:

  • Meals – eat smaller helpings at meal times but keep eating throughout the day; fewer but regular helpings will burden your digestion less
  • Snack on fruits – many are ‘negative calorie’ foods, such as apples, asparaguses, avocados, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, berries, cucumbers, grapefruits, lemons, lettuce, onions, oranges, papayas and pineapples
  • Go for lean protein – raw nuts and seeds are rich in protein so are packed with amino acids, ensuring you burn more calories and get your metabolism working harder to break it down as it passes through your digestion system.

Cleansing– why not try supplements?

Why not, indeed! Hopefully it’s now clear that focusing on diet, eating habits and remaining physically active is crucial to improving your metabolism, but who would turn down further help? And if, for whatever reason, you’re incapable of exercising as much as you’d like to or unable to change your diet as much as you might, then supplementation’s a great alternative or enhancement – specifically digestive cleansing supplements.

Available from us at The Finchley Clinic, all three of the following products help eradicate from the body toxins and the like that slow down digestion, thus helping to speed up your metabolism naturally:

Oxy-Powder-120-capsules

Oxy-Powder – a high-quality oxygen cleansing supplement, it oxygenates and cleanses the small and large intestines, leading to an optimal bowel environment to aid a well-functioning metabolism

Mag-07-colon-cleanse

Mag O7 – a colon cleanser that releases nascent oxygen for fast acting (usually overnight) results

Livatrex-new

Livatrex – ideal for liver cleansing, a product designed to support and drive the natural process of detoxifying, flushing and purging the liver of built-up toxins, fatty deposits and more.

Biomulsion D, Heart health, Suntrex D3, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2

Don’t be Deficient: Vitamin D and Men’s Heart Health

With any amount of luck, the year will soon be properly moving on from the cold of winter to the relative warmth of spring and the temperatures will rise for all of us. And with that comes increased daylight. However, for those who work through the night, getting enough daylight hours can be an issue not just in the winter months, but throughout the year. And, don’t doubt it; there can be biological implications if they don’t manage to do so.

Indeed, several clinical studies conducted in recent years have proved that deaths owing to cardiovascular diseases are higher in winter months than at other times of year. The reason for this? Well, it may not just be coincidence because one study suggests that men with low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to suffer from a heart attack than those with higher levels of the vitamin in their bodies1. What’s the connection here, you may ask? Well, it’s that Vitamin D’s widely referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – and for good reason. Although an essential vitamin for the human body, it is traditionally derived via exposure to sunlight as it prompts the body to produce the vitamin.

Exposure to sun for around just 15 minutes, three times a week is said to be sufficient to produce enough quantities of Vitamin D for the body. And yet, everyone’s body is different and some, maybe most certainly need far more. Indeed, there’s no question that, for instance, for the majority of the men who took part in the aforementioned study, to eradicate their Vitamin D deficiency and increasing their body’s levels of it would reduce the chance of suffering a heart attack.

What does Vitamin D do?

But what is it that makes Vitamin D so essential? Why do our bodies need it so much? Not only does it play a critical role by encouraging and ensuring the absorption of magnesium and calcium takes place in the body, but also – and perhaps why it has the aforementioned connection to heart health (especially in men) – its presence in the body makes sure there are adequate levels of calcium and phosphorous in our blood, which means both these crucial elements are carried to the organs where they’re required for our bodies to function correctly and keep us healthy and well.

Vitamin D supplements

Now, you may be one of the fortunate people who does – and, indeed, make sure you – get a decent amount of ‘sun time’ in the summer; that’s good for sure, so long as you take precautions when the sun’s at its hottest (and its harmful UV rays) are at their most potent at the height of the day. But, even so, it’s probably unlikely you’re actually getting enough Vitamin D from this method alone. And, if that’s the case, what about those poor people who are, for whatever reason, not able to do as you do come the summer months? And those who barely see the sun at all in less warm months when there’s far less daylight?

The truth then is that the vast majority of us could do with a little help in boosting our Vitamin D levels. To that end, supplementation is the ideal avenue to turn to. And one of the best Vitamin D supplements on the market (actually the best-selling for us at The Finchley Clinic) is Vitamin D3 (5,000iu) with Vitamin K2. Not only are its capsules chewable and capable of being taken sublingually, but they also have a terrific apricot flavour and, among all the other attributes and benefits to your body they offer, they’re great for supporting both the skeletal and the immune systems. Indeed, it’s the supplement’s additional ingredient, Vitamin K2, contributes to bone strength and arterial and heart health (reducing calcification or even decalcifying and likely reducing blood pressure).

Moreover, you may also be interested in the following supplements that are also ideal for boosting your Vitamin D intake:

suntrex

Suntrex D3 – a premium quality product created by extracting oil from nutrient-dense lichen plants, it provides support for the immune and nervous systems and promotes good organ, bone and brain health; suitable for vegans.

 

BioMulsion-D

Biomulsion D – A fluid-based Vitamin D3 supplement, it provides maximum strength and convenience in a few tiny drops for those who’d prefer not to take tablets or capsules.

Reference:

1. Giovannucci E., Liu Y., Hollis B. W. and Rimm E. B. ‘25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men’. Archives of Internal Medicine. June 2008; 168 (11): 1174-1180.

Aerobic O7, Allertrex, Colostrum Plus, Respiratory Health

Fighting Allergens and Air Pollutants: Have You Considered A Lung Cleanse?

It’s not unusual to hear or read something almost every day about air pollution. It’s become a part of everyday life. However, there’s a very good reason – air pollution in most towns and cities is real, thanks to a combination of motor exhausts, chemical by-products and all manner of industrial emissions. And the problem is, in addition to what it all does to the natural world of course, none of it does our insides any good. Especially our lungs. Indeed, bad air can cause stress and even serious damage to lung tissue.

It’s not just outdoors

And, unfortunately, it’s not just outside that’s full of toxins; the reality is that indoor environments appear to be just as bad, if not worse, on this score. You may be sceptical, but studies suggest when a baby crawls over a patch of normal carpet they’re likely to inhale the equivalent toxicity of four cigarettes1. Now, that may sound frightening (and, in many ways, it is), but it’s come to be normal in our everyday world. Every environment in the world around us contains a good deal of toxicity which we’re exposed to as soon as we’re born, pretty much up until our dying breaths – and owing to dust mites, mould, mildew and chemicals, that includes indoors as well as outdoors environments.

Don’t doubt it. In the United States alone, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reckons that one in six of homes are filled with airborne pollutants that harm their occupants’ health. Meanwhile, the American College of Allergies has claimed that up to a half of illnesses in the country are down to air pollution indoors not outdoors.

Again, that sounds like a staggering claim to make, but consider just how many of our homes we live in and the offices we work in today are super-insulated and rely on pollutant-spreading air conditioning systems to control air flow. To that end, it’s also been claimed that air inside buildings may contain up to 100 times the toxin level as the air outside them, while a direct correlation has also been found between depression and the high concentrations of mould in homes2.

Animal allergens

Moreover, love animals and keep pets as so many of us do (and why shouldn’t we?), it also feeds the allergen levels in our homes. Conventional wisdom suggests this is all about the kind and length of hair our pets have – the longer haired a cat or dog the more allergens they’ll give off. Yet, while cat or dog allergies are often linked to their hair, that’s only half the truth because it’s often more specifically about the dander beneath the cat or dog’s coat of hair that’s responsible for the allergens. And, in some cases, the source may be the saliva that coats the hair when the animal – in this case usually a cat – lick their fur.

Fair dos, even many of those who suffer from such animal-derived allergens are content to put up with the sniffles and some coughing while living with their quadruped companions – and who would blame them? That said, who wouldn’t advise someone to perform a regular lung cleansing if they’re putting up with either pet-based allergens or respiratory and/ or sinus issues owing to the quality of air in their homes? Why wouldn’t you want to try out something that may prevent you from, at some point, suffering a severe allergic reaction?

Why not try a lung cleanse?

Over the course of human history, naturally-occurring remedies have been relied on by many civilisations, not least indigenous cultures, for respiratory conditions. Plants including the likes of eucalyptus, lungwort, peppermint and osha root are all examples here. Yet, unfortunately, for some people, purchasing such plants individually isn’t always an affordable or practical option, but there is a solution. Rather than buying – or even trying to grow! – this quartet of herbs on their own, you can consume all of them together in one of the most well regarded of lung cleanse supplements, Allertrex – which is available via us at The Finchley Clinic.

Enabling improved respiratory function then, Allertrex is absolutely ideal for a thorough cleansing of your lungs; detoxifying, cleaning and refreshing the fragile linings of the lungs’ bronchial passages and removing from them built-up environmental toxins, damaging organisms and other irritants.

Also, for further natural respiratory support, you might consider these two supplements:

Aerobic-K07

Aerobic O7 – contains nascent oxygen, which prompts the formation of white blood cells, essential for supplying damaged cells (including those in the lungs) with the super-oxide they require for repair and good health.

 

Colostrum-Plus

Colostrum Plus – in addition to supporting both the immune and digestive systems, this product’s great for tackling any type of inflammatory issue, especially allergies and their effect on the lungs.

References:

1. ‘Facts about indoor quality’. Intuitive Environmental Solutions, LLC. 2008

2. Brown University. ‘Household mold linked to depression’. Science Daily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829162815.htm. Aug 2007.

Supplier of Natural Health Supplements for candida management and colon cleansing