Have you heard of K2? No, not the mountain; the vitamin. You haven’t? Well, you’re not alone – most people haven’t. Admittedly, it doesn’t crop up a great deal in Western world diets, which may explain its lack of recognition. Yet, it really ought to be better recognised, given the critical role it can play to maintain both good heart and bone health.

And that, we feel, here at The Finchley Clinic, is a moot point because, if you’re not getting enough Vitamin K2 from your diet (and the chances are you’re not), why not turn to high-quality supplementation for it, instead…?

Vitamins K1 and K2

Vitamin K2 is, in fact, one of the two forms of Vitamin K; the latter having been long recognised as essential for blood clotting – or blood coagulation. Vitamin K’s discovery was first reported in a German scientific journal and referred to as ‘Koagulationsvitamin’; explaining the ‘K’ in its name.

Alongside K2, the other form of Vitamin K is K1 (also known as phylloquinone), which occurs in plant foods like leafy greens, while K2 (also known as menaquinone) occurs mostly in certain animal-based and fermented foods.

What do K1 and K2 do?

In general, Vitamin K is critical to the body’s natural function, by aiding blood clotting and calcium metabolism, as well as helping to maintain heart health. Its involvement with calcium extends to the fact it importantly supports bone calcification, while preventing calcification of blood vessels and the kidneys.

What specifically of K1 and K2, though? Well, although they’re both forms of Vitamin K, some experts believe the roles of K1 and K2 differ to a large degree, so should be classified separately from each other. Indeed, this thinking appears to be supported by certain studies that have found K2 supplements can improve bone and heart health, while K1 (without K2) appears to provide no significant benefits here.

Vitamin K2 – may help prevent heart disease

Now, a big risk for heart disease is if calcium congregates in the arteries around the heart; so, anything that may reduce this build-up of calcium could be very important – and it’s believed Vitamin K can help here. One particular study has demonstrated that, of all its test subjects, those who consumed the largest amounts of K2 were 52% less likely to develop artery calcification, while they ran a 57% lower risk of death from heart disease.

Vitamin K2 – may boost bone health

One of the most harmful health conditions for bone health is osteoporosis; quite simply, it drives up the chance of someone experiencing bone breaks. As many are aware, it’s a very common ailment, not least among ageing women. Evidence shows, though, that K2 can help counter osteoporosis by promoting the binding of two proteins (matrix GLA protein and osteocalcin) to aid the construction and maintenance of bones.

Indeed, one study has found that postmenopausal women taking Vitamin K2 supplements experience far slower reductions in age-related bone mineral density. Moreover, other studies into K2’s effect on women’s bone health have revealed similar results. Out of 13 of them, only one study’s results didn’t suggest significant improvement, while seven of the studies suggested K2 decreases spinal fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 77% and all non-spinal fractures by 81%.

Consuming Vitamin K2 – food and supplements

Unfortunately, unlike K1, Vitamin K2 doesn’t feature in that many widely available foods. Plus, although the body’s capable of converting the K1 it receives from a balanced diet into K2, studies suggest that the average person is unlikely to get sufficient K2 this way.

So, how to get more K2? Well, it is available in specific foods, such as high-fat dairy products like beef from grass-fed cows, egg yolks, liver and other organ meats. Clearly, though, this is obviously of little good for those whose diets, for different reasons, won’t accommodate such foods. In which case, trying Vitamin K2 supplements is a great alternative. Such a supplement you may well be interested in taking a look at, then is Vitamin K2 Myomax, newly available from us at The Finchley Clinic.

This product (which delivers K2 in a high-dosage and is 100% soy-free), the manufacturer confidently claims, may well improve users’ cardiac output and the oxygenation of their body tissue, in addition to supporting their bone, nerve, heart and arterial health and efficient mitochondrial function.

To be clear, there’s no silver bullet for ensuring good heart and bone health across one’s life, but healthy-living, a good, balanced diet, sensible exercise and Vitamin K2 consumption via high-quality, organic-derived supplementation are the right steps to take.

Are We  Really In The Middle of A Terrible Pandemic?

2006 = 470,326

2007 = 470,721

2008 = 475,763

2009 = 459,241

2010 = 461,017

2011 = 452,862

2012 = 466,779

2013 = 473,552

2014 = 468,875

2015 = 495,309

2016 = 490,791

2017 = 498,882

2018 = 505,859

2019 = 496,370

2020 = 469,182 (November and December not yet available)


Source: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/monthlyfiguresondeathsregisteredbyareaofusualresidence –  From the Office Of National Statistics. During this reference period the total population of England and Wales has been steadily increasing therefore one would also expect the death rate per year to be increasing. 

I am not suggesting that isn’t a very nasty, and in some fatal disease going round, which kills people who’s average is 82. This seems to be incontrovertible. And I am not claiming that we are being subjected to a conspiratorial hoax (though in my opinion if you claim to be ‘liberal’ you should recognise that those who have unusual views have as much to be heard as anyone else, instead of just being told to shut up). However I think I will let you decide whether the above figures evince evidence of a death rate that justifies shutting down the entire UK and indeed world economy and festering poverty, stress and depression on a massive scale, even though every nations average health and longevity is strongly linked to that nations economic prosperity. Maybe it does, and maybe I’m wrong, but I lean towards the sceptical side. The Black Death killed around 50% of the population of The British Islands between 1348-1349. The rest of Europe had a similar mortality rate. It disappeared naturally by itself, as these things do with or without a vaccination, but it returned in 1361-62, this time killing 25% of the population. It returned to London in the 1650’s killing around 15% of the population. Now that’s a pandemic! Of course this was a time when most people lived in abject poverty, and without any sanitary conditions at all, which is why it killed such a vast proportion of the population. 

Nonetheless, it is important to keep the immune system healthy during the winter anyway, whether or not there is or is not genuinely a ‘pandemic’. 

At the risk of repeating myself, below are some products I recommend that will help boost your immunity. That’s whether or not you decide to have a flu jab or any other jab, which by the way, under Regulation 345 of the 2012 Human Medicine Regulation, it is unlawful to sue to the vaccine manufacturer over if it all goes horribly wrong, as they have been given a 100% exemption from any liability whatsoever. This exemption has now been extended to include the distributors of the vaccines and those who administer the vaccines as a result of the The Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 – Statutory Instrument 2020 No. 1125. Any lawyers reading this, please fact check the above for yourself if you do not believe me. Anyway I digress….let’s get on to immune system support….

Vitamin D Supplements – even the government is recommending this now for the elderly, but they are recommending and giving out entirely useless dosages which will do…..absolutely nothing. 

In my opinion if you can’t get in the sun, then you should supplement with Vitamin D, every day that you don’t get in the sun for some non-burning tanning time without splashing on toxic sunscreens that block UBV. Of the different Vitamin D products we provide, my favourite one, and indeed the one I take, is this one. High strength 5000iu, not the PATHETIC dosage recommended by the government, which any decent nutritionist (as opposed to dieticians) knows will not be a sufficient dosage to support immunity. Suitable for sublingual absorption or chewing. And it comes with the added advantage of containing 90mcg’s of Vitamin K2, which ideally should always be combined with Vitamin D. That’s the subject of another newsletter as the K2 has a lot of benefits of its own. Recommended usage: One a day. every day, indefinitely except on days when your body has had or is going to get enough sun.Another excellent high strength and popular Vitamin D product is Suntrex, which is the one to go for if you prefer a liquid to the sublingual tablet. For those who want a lower strength Vitamin D, we provide several others choices. 

 Who is at the highest risk of all for Vitamin D deficiency?

The truth is that most people have below optimal levels of vitamin D. I’ve discussed this point in previous newsletters. But some people are even more likely than average to need a vitamin D supplement. The following list is not exhaustive, but covers the most common group of people who are especially likely to need a vitamin D supplement. 

• Breastfed infants, because human milk is a poor source of vitamin D, largely because the mothers themselves frequently have poor vitamin D levels


• The elderly, as their skin doesn’t make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight as efficiently as young people, and their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form. (Is this one of the reasons why the elderly are at higher risk of dying from coronavirus? Maybe).


• Dark skinned people as it takes them much longer to produce vitamin D from action of of ultraviolet light on the skin. (Is this one of the reasons why black and Asian people are at higher risk of dying from coronavirus? One would suspect that would be the case). In my opinion dark skinned people living in the UK should take vitamin D throughout the year, including during periods of fine sunny weather. 


• People with disorders such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease who don’t handle fat properly, because vitamin D needs fat to be absorbed.


• Obesity, because the body fat binds to vitamin D and prevents it from getting into the blood.  (Is this one of the reasons why obese people at higher risk of dying from coronavirus?)


• People who have had gastric bypass surgery


• People with osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism (too much of a hormone that controls the body’s calcium level), sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, or other granulomatous disease (disease with granulomas, collections of cells caused by chronic inflammation), 


• People with cancer 


• People who take medicines that affect vitamin D metabolism.

Our full range of Vitamin D products is found here. 

Vitamin C and “the virus”.

Now, lets discuss, that most famous of of all natural antivirals – Vitamin C. People have already been cured, yes I did say “cured” of coronavirus with Vitamin C. I admit the doctors who have reported this have been using IV (intravenous) Vitamin C rather than oral supplements. This probably is the gold standard, but oral supplements are still in my opinion very effective and infinitely better than taking nothing. Dr Richard Cheng was at one time widely found detailing the results of his work with patients including several interviews with him, and several more reported on by the likes of Dr Joeseph Mercola M.D. and Dr Andrew Saul M.D.. Dr Saul had an informative interview with Dr Cheng removed by YouTube for violating their community guidelines, in other words tell the truth as an experienced doctor who was actually treating people). Doctors in one group of New York hospitals also got positive results, even though the dosages they were using were dreadfully low. Unfortunately these results came into conflict with Google’s advertising revenues from the nice people I mentioned above, which is why this information is not easy to find now. Nonetheless if you’re determined enough you can still find it on alternative platforms if you look around. 

In reality, Vitamin C has become so well known since the publication of the book “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” by Linus Pauling in the early 70’s, and countless books since then, such as the 500 page, fully referenced “Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins” by Thomas E. Levy, M.D., J.D. summarising literally hundreds of published peer reviewed scientific and medical papers that it seems pretty amazing that there is even a debate about the remarkable health benefits of this critical detoxifying, antioxidant, anti aging, collagen building, immune building, anti viral, and general infection fighting vitamin. Countless papers and other books have been published demonstrating the health benefits and safety of supplementing ones diet with Vitamin C even beyond these books. Even though they have totally lost this argument, some people are still arguing over whether Vitamin C supplementation enhances health, and frankly, we think it’s ridiculous (not to mention ignorant, since it’s incredibly easy these days to find the information proving otherwise). The same is true of supplementation of many other nutrients, but ‘Vitamin C scepticism’ if we can call it that, is especially silly where it comes to its undoubted and many times proven antiviral properties. It really is time that nutrition ‘sceptics’ and people with obvious vested interests engage in a more intelligent debate than arguing over the benefits of Vitamin C, which are obvious, incontrovertible, and proven, with an endless selection of references easily available for anyone who can actually be bothered to look. 

For those who are hungry for a brief summary of the evidence for Vitamin C’s anti viral and antimicrobial benefits, I recommend listening to cardiologist, Dr Thomas Levy. The YouTube video entitled Vitamin C The Ultimate Antibiotic, is found here which in my opinion is brilliant. 

Which Vitamin C Product to take?

You can view all the Vitamin C products we provide here. The most popular one is this one, and this is the one I usually take myself. However the Liposomal Vitamin C products (thought to provide better absorption, but significantly more expensive) are now not far behind in terms of popularity. For an acute viral situation, we recommend a super high dose of 10-20g per day for 5-7 days at the first sign of trouble – with heavier people tending benefit from the upper dosage. For general health, I recommend around 2-3g per day, especially in winter months.

Zinc

Zinc is essential for every cell in the body and there are entire books written on zinc’s role in health, immunity, and prevention of infectious disease. There are at least 200 enzymes in the body that require zinc for their activity, and it is involved in the synthesis of all proteins and antibodies in the body, of which there are are over 50,000 (please don’t ask me for a list of all 50,000!). It is vital for preventing viral replication. Who needs to supplements with zinc? According to my own mentor, basically virtually everyone is deficient (the reasons I will cover in a future newsletter). Suggested dosage 15-30mg per day. It may be taken indefinitely. We have a range of zinc products, all of which are good quality and work, though the one I usually tend to recommend if asked is zinc gluconate. 

Selenium

Selenium is another mineral which is vital for supporting many aspects of immunity and for helping the body to prevent viral replication, and is supportive to organs such as the thyroid and adrenals. Its a vital antioxidant, from which more or less everyone benefits from supplementing. Again we have a number of options, though when asked to stick my neck out, I usually recommend our own one, which is cheap and effective. Again, there are entire books written on the benefits of selenium, which you can find cheaply on Amazon. 

An all in one Vitamin C, Zinc and Selenium product

You can get all three of these vital nutrients, albeit in a lower dosage in Antioxidant Supreme. A product that’s good for literally everyone as far as I am concerned. 

Samento (to be replaced with Cat’s Claw Plus when current stock runs out)

This amazing Amazon rainforest herb is both antiviral and immune boosting. I wrote about it in a previous newsletter, and in order to keep this message short, for those who want to know about it’s remarkable benefits in more depth, you can learn about it here. For those who fancy something a bit more gentle, its available in tea and capsules instead of the more powerful tincture form. For sensitive people, this may be the better option as Samento / Cat’s Claw Plus tincture doesn’t take any prisoners. 

Pau D’Arco (also known as Lapacho, and Taheebo). 

Pau d’Arco is a giant rainforest hardwood, the bark of which has been used medicinally by South Americans for more than 2,000 years. The bark contains many actives including 20 phytochemicals called naphthoquinones. These quinine compounds (chiefly Lapachol and Beta-lapachone) are believed to account for the broad spectrum antibiotic and cytotoxic action of Pau d’Arco, but it is likely that all of these actives have important properties that warrant further study. Pau d’Arco is popularly tp help with candida albicans and other fungal infections, and as well as having exhibited anti fungal activity against 11 strains of yeast and fungi, it has demonstrated anti parasitic, anti viral (including Epstein-Barr) and anti bacterial properties – making it excellent for general immune support. In recent test tube studies it has demonstrated anti microbial properties against a number of bacteria – including H-Pylori (implicated in the formation of stomach ulcers) and MRSA infections. Pau d’Arco has also exhibited strong antioxidant activity in a number of studies and it is also used to treat IBS – and has long been believed to possess a ‘gut protecting’ effect. A study published in 2005 showed that two of the actives from the bark exhibited selective anti bacterial activity against E-Coli and other pathogenic bacteria, but did not effect the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus or other pro-biotic bacteria.

Camu Formula. This polyherbal formula was originally marketed as ‘Immurejuve’ (suggesting immune system rejuvenation’), and was developed to provide a range of herbs to help nourish and support the immune system, so that your body’s natural ability to fight infection is optimised.  It goes beautifully with Galangal Formula (originally marketed as Virocurb i.e.. for curbing viruses) which is a herbal formulation designed to help ward off viruses. The claim to fame with both products is the unique way in which they were developed. As the formulator explains…

“These formulae have been developed because we were dissatisfied with currently available products. Using our test system (Vega Biokinesiology), we find that single herbs “power score” (a measure of efficacy) 5-20, currently available herbal formulae power score 15-30, and our formulae power score 35-50. We therefore believe that our formulae are up to three times more effective than existing herbal formulae. The herbs used in our formulae have been selected purely empirically, without recourse to the literature. For each formula we screen hundreds of herbs and then having made the initial choice we test for antagonism, synergism, allergenicity and tolerability before we decide on the final selection. In all we conduct around three thousand separate tests for each formula. Clinical experience has quickly confirmed the validity of our system and we now have numerous testimonials and case-histories to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our range. Perhaps the most worthwhile result yet was a lady who was genuinely suicidal who repeatedly and joyously rang her practitioner to tell her that the CTX8 (now replaced with Wild Endive Formula) that she had been prescribed had literally saved her life by lifting her depression so quickly.”

Please note, the above is not the be all and end all, and we have many other products that support and nourish the immune system. In this newsletter I have just cherry picked some of my favourite choices. 

Let’s not kid ourselves; products for pain relief that are derived from the cannabis plant are controversial. Yet, it would be incorrect to assume all chemicals in such products are the same. They aren’t at all.

To be clear; hemp oil, which is nowadays increasingly sought out by sufferers of chronic pain to relieve their symptoms, contains no psychoactive element. That’s to say, a naturally-sourced hemp oil supplement is specifically designed to aid the body, not give you a high – it won’t give you a high.

That’s because hemp oil isn’t derived from the part of the cannabis plant that contains the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive, high-generating chemical; but from the part of the plant that contains the chemical cannabidiol (CBD). These hemp oil products, then (especially if they’re supplements featuring broad-spectrum hemp oil), offer a rich variety of nutrients, fatty acids and other bioactive chemical compounds that might well prove useful for pain and inflammation relief – as well as providing other health benefits, too.

Pain relief

It’s widely known that many people use hemp oil as a natural form of relief from pain – especially chronic pain – and to treat inflammation. For these people, this treatment doesn’t appear to be just a natural alternative to prescription and/ or over-the-counter medication, but a more effective and satisfying form of pain treatment and, as you’d expect, these adherents are adamant it helps them.

However, so far, research results are yet to truly catch up with this anecdotal evidence. Undeniably positive results in this area have been recorded, which is good news, for sure, but it does come from scientific tests on mice. So, more research on human subjects needs to be undertaken here.

Skin health benefits

Regarded as highly nutritious and, because of this, naturally helpful for skin health, hemp oil owes this reputation to its lipid profile, which features many vitamins, healthful oils and fatty acids. These ingredients mean its advocates believe it can nourish and protect skin from inflammation, oxidation and ageing effects, in general.

Brain health support

Hemp oil might be additionally good for brain health. This most significant of the body’s organs requires a high number of health-giving fats to do all the work it does (that is, running the body).

Another mice-focused study has found that hemp seed extract, with all its useful active compounds (such as polyphenols) and fatty acids, is capable of providing the brain with protection against inflammation. Again, however, one may suggest more research needs to be carried out here on human subjects.

Heart health help

Finally, it may also be true that hemp oil is beneficial for heart health. The results of one study suggest its nutrient profile might well provide a positive effect for the likes of high blood pressure and high levels atherosclerosis and cholesterol.

Meanwhile, another scientific review found that the more alpha-linoleic acid (one of hemp oil’s many fatty acids) there is present in the body, the more unlikely it is cardiovascular disease might develop.

Hemp oil supplements

As the above points make clear, then, specific scientific testing has been carried out to ascertain different areas of health that hemp oil may benefit and many advocates definitely believe it can provide aid in these areas; certainly, scientific studies have reaped positive, if limited, results. In which case, hemp oil is an increasingly popular source for boosting good natural health (especially pain and inflammation relief) – and supplementation has become one of the most popular forms of consumable hemp oil.

Advocates and the curious, therefore, may well be interested to learn that a particularly high-quality and high-strength hemp oil supplement has been developed and released by Higher Nature – and is now available through us at The Finchley Clinic.

This legal and thoroughly safe, advanced, broad-spectrum Hemp Oil (10ml/ 10% strength) comprises phytocannabinoids (CBD) and is flavoured with a delicious peppermint taste. It’s entirely naturally sourced, with its hemp oil base extracted from the cannabis plant via the well-recognised CO2 method for the best possible quality ingredients and best possible results. Indeed, we believe this new, high-strength Hemp Oil from Higher Nature may well prove a good partner product with Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules, Lemon Fish Oil or Organic Flax Seed Oil (all of which, like hemp oil, are great sources for fatty acids, such as linoleic acid).

So, why not try it (and partner it with one of these other supplements) and let us know what you think? We’d be delighted to hear how you get on…

How well do you know your thyroid? Like it or not, if the answer is not that well, you’re probably unaware of what happens when it’s not working properly and how that can make you ill.

A small gland that, shaped like a butterfly, is to be found at the front of the neck (near the Adam’s apple), the thyroid is a significant part of the endocrine system; the system in the human body that’s made up of different glands. For its part, the thyroid is responsible for producing and secreting the T4 and T3 hormones, which together work to regulate growth, development and metabolism.

To be more specific, T4 and T3 work by informing the body’s cells when to convert oxygen and calories into energy. Of all the hormones awash in your body produced by the thyroid, 80 percent of them are T4, so while there’s far less T3 about, it’s actually a more powerful form of the thyroid hormone.

So much for T4 and T3; yet neither can perform their critical work unless they’re created and secreted by the thyroid, in the first place. And, for that to happen, the gland requires the body to consume the right nutrients, such as the all-important chemical that’s iodine – which is why a good, healthy, nutritious diet is important and perhaps, too, thyroid-health-focused supplementation.

How your thyroid can be disrupted

When, like the endocrine system’s other glands (and, indeed, other parts of the body), the thyroid isn’t aided in by you consuming nutrition and vitamins, its work is most susceptible to disruption. In particular, the thyroid’s efforts to regulate processes like growth, development and reproduction get interfered with because its hormones’ work as chemical messengers in the body is disrupted – often due to the sabotaging efforts of chemicals referred to as endocrine disruptors.

And, don’t doubt it, endocrine disruptors are very bad news. The likes of dioxins, pesticides and PCBs, they’re past-masters at blocking, altering or even mimicking the production of hormones, causing hormone secretion levels either to spike or plummet and, therefore, potentially resulting in on a roster of development, reproductive, neurological and immune disorders, including birth defects and possibly even cancer.

Unfortunately, you can consume endocrine disruptors from practically anywhere; they’re ubiquitous in all the environments of our modern world. Because, as mentioned, they tend to come in the form of dioxins, PCBs and pesticides, these chemicals can be traced to a plethora of common products we use and keep in our homes, such as cosmetics, food containers, household chemicals, plastics and plastic bottles.

And yet, although it’s difficult to manage your environment so it’s satisfyingly free of endocrine disruptors, there’s no question that inadequate nutrition can also result in thyroid concerns – and that’s definitely something you can successfully address through good diet and/ or thyroid supplements.

Thyroid disorders to be aware of

There are several different disorders associated with the thyroid:

• Hypothyroidism – occurs when an underactive thyroid isn’t making sufficient amounts of T4 and T3; symptoms can include brittle hair and fingernails; constipation; depression; fatigue and weakness; hair loss; heavy or irregular menstrual cycles; hoarseness; increased sensitivity to cold; joint and muscle pain; puffy face, hands and feet; slow heart rate; weight gain

• Hyperthyroidism – not to be confused with the aforementioned hypothyroidism, especially as this condition is its opposite, it’s effectively an overactive thyroid gland; symptoms can include frequent bowel movements and diarrhoea; goitre (see below); hair loss; heart palpitations; high blood pressure; increased appetite; irregular menstrual cycles; reduced concentration; nervousness; sweating and increased sensitivity to heat; protruding, itchy eyes; restlessness and insomnia; weight loss

• Goitre – an enlargement of the thyroid gland, often leading to swelling in the neck; goitres often occur due to iodine deficiency, the thyroid increasing in size to try and capture as much iodine as it can

• Graves’ disease – an autoimmune disorder that forces the body’s immune system to mistakenly identify the thyroid as an alien entity, attacking it with antibodies; most common in women over 20 years-old and a major cause of hyperthyroidism

• Thyroiditis – an inflammation of the thyroid, often occurring because of a viral infection, trauma, immune disorder or a drug-related cause; usually painful

• Thyroid cancer – the endocrine system’s most likely-to-develop cancer and rates of thyroid cancer are growing; fortunately, though, cases tend to develop slowly, so are often detected early and can be treated, ensuring survival rates are good.

Thyroid health supplements

So, to help a thyroid stay in tip-top condition is surely in everyone’s best interests. In which case, we’re only too happy, here at The Finchley Clinic, to introduce you to the Thyroid Health Kit, a carefully crafted 60-day plan to naturally enhance and help take care of your thyroid function, which features three critical nutrient components and – for added peace of mind – comes complete with a one-year-money-back guarantee.

To ensure it can help deliver more energy, increased sharpness and less ‘brain fog’, improved sleep and a more balanced metabolism, the Thyroid Health Kit includes:

• B12 Tri-Blend – a blend of the three most bioactive forms of Vitamin B12; people who suffer with an underactive thyroid may well also be B12-deficient

• Selenium​​​​​​​ – required by the thyroid to generate and secrete T4 and T3, selenium is also needed by the body to produce antioxidant enzymes for thyroid protection

• Detoxadine – an organic, nascent form of iodine that’s great for nourishing the thyroid and encouraging a normal hormone balance in the body.

As is true with so many products you come across, not all supplements are produced to the same standard. But, then, to look at this fact more positively, you might say it’s because some products are improved on. Such is the case with Optibac Probiotics For Every Day EXTRA Strength, which is fantastic news for enthusiasts of probiotics and those who are yet to learn and benefit from the fantastic work probiotics can do for their intestinal tract, their immune system and their overall health and wellbeing.

Good gut health is all about balance. To reverse the damage done to the intestinal tract by ‘bad bacteria’ through a combination of bad diet, toxins, stress and long-term use of antibiotics, it’s important to turn to the one thing that can bring peace by banishing these harmful gut organisms and, thus, establish balance – it’s important to turn to probiotics. Thanks to their symbiotic relationship with the body, they balance the gut by detoxifying the substances you’ve consumed and ingested, and so generate a healthy microbiome in gut; made up of a varied microbiota.

Probiotics are the answer

How? Well, due to the presence of an increasing number of probiotics (owing to the body’s owner keeping to a course of probiotic supplements), the digestive system’s able to reactivate its live bacteria with the probiotics’ ‘good bacteria’ – to counter its pathogens (‘bad bacteria’) – with the former quickly setting to work and colonising the gut over the latter.

To that end then, turning to the market-leading, gluten-free and dairy-free Optibac Probiotics could well do your overall health a good deal of benefit. Especially if you combine Opitbac’s For Every Day EXTRA Strength capsules with Optibac’s Saccharomyces boulardii probiotics, both of which are available from us at The Finchley Clinic. And that’s because these two highly recommended, well-reviewed supplements could blend together as a potential solution for gut-based complaints, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). After all, given it’s the centre-point of your immune system, when your gut’s not well, neither can be the rest of your body.

Extra Strength – extra ingredients

Each capsule of Optibac Probiotics For Every Day EXTRA Strength contains the following bacteria strains and additional ingredients:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
• Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04
• Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-02
• Its other ingredients include:
• Micro-crystalline cellulose (filler)
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (capsule)
• Titanium dioxide (capsule)
• Vegetable magnesium stearate (anti-caking agent)
• Silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)

(Optibac claims each capsule comprises 20 billion micro-organisms)

Meanwhile, each Optibac Probiotics Saccharomyces boulardii capsule contains the following bacteria strains and additional ingredients:

• Saccharomyces boulardii (250mg)
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (capsule)
• Potato starch (filler)
• Magnesium stearate (lubricant)
• Silicon dioxide (an anti-adherent)

(Optibac claims each capsule comprises 5 billion live cultures)

How do these probiotic supplements help gut health?

As noted above, these two types of probiotics are regarded for their positive effects when taken for intestinal conditions. Research studies have shown that some of the bacteria strains in Optibac’s Saccharomyces boulardii may help prevent flare-ups of Crohn’s disease and so aid a sufferer in controlling the condition, as well as act an effective agent in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, maybe even helping to push the condition into remission.

Moreover, the bacteria strain Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, to be found in For Every Day EXTRA Strength capsules, may well deliver positive results for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A study has discovered the strain helps IBS sufferers in several different ways – such as reduced bloating (73%), passing less wind (54%), less abdominal pain/ fewer cramps (62%), and reduced diarrhoea (62%) and constipation (54%).

And can they help with hayfever?

Finally, it might surprise you; but, yes, it does appear For Every Day EXTRA Strength capsules may not just help to balance the microbiome, improve immunity and safeguard general health – but also, possibly, help treat hayfever for those allergic to pollen. Results from a clinical trial suggest the probiotic reduced symptoms of nasal irritation among those allergic to birch tree pollen, which isn’t to be (ahem) sniffed at, given the fact one fifth of people in the United States, alone, are allergic to this particular pollen. 

All in all, then, there’s many a good reason to seriously consider purchasing Optibac Probiotics For Every Day EXTRA Strength (combined with Optibac Saccharomyces boulardii) – it may do you a lot of good in the pollen-packed spring and summer months and, frankly for the good of your gut and body, any time of the year.

Inflammation… what do you think of when you read that word? A minor cut from a sharp object? A bump on the head? A rash from an insect bite? If so, you’re certainly thinking along the right lines; yet, there’s another lesser known type of inflammation, too – one that takes place inside the body. It’s not usually accompanied with pain, but it can do you real damage. This, though, is where an anti-inflammatory diet can help. How? Read on…

What exactly is inflammation?

Of course, inflammation isn’t always bad for the body; far from it. That’s because, as noted above, inflammation is often a reaction to an injury generated by the immune system – or, likewise, that system’s reaction to an allergy or bacteria. In general terms, when it occurs to help combat a short-term concern like this (acute inflammation), it serves a good, important purpose. It’s when it lingers inside (chronic inflammation) that it’s bad news because it can reduce the body’s overall immunity and cause damage to your body.

How will an anti-inflammatory diet help you?

Because inflammation’s directly related to immunity, it has direct connectivity to the digestive tract; for it’s here where the body’s microbiome (the ‘healthy’ bacteria and other micro-organisms that play a critical role in the regulation of the immune system) actually reside. This means then, a poor diet can very quickly trigger an unnecessary inflammatory response, given that – obviously – what’s in your diet winds up in your digestive tract faster than it does practically anywhere else in the body.

Conversely, a healthy, balanced diet will only aid your body in its tireless work to thrive and so, naturally, help boost your immunity. So, a diet balanced with the likes of  omega-3 fatty acids (which help regulate inflammation) and omega-6 fatty acids (which serve to stimulate inflammation), in addition to getting exercise, good sleep, drinking water and trying to reduce your stress levels, ought to aid the normalisation of inflammation.

Recommended anti-inflammatory foods

Ideally, an anti-inflammatory diet may well share many characteristics with a plant-based Mediterranean diet, the likes of which research suggests can extend your life and improve its quality. Studies, too, show that many vegetarians and vegans enjoy less inflammation, as well as less risk developing heart disease.

When following such a diet, though, try not to overdo carbohydrates (not least sugar) because these might just tip your hormonal balance, which might spur on inflammation. Experts in inflammation often agree on the ‘40-30-30 rule’ when it comes to diet: 40 percent complex carbohydrates, 30 percent low-fat protein and 30 percent healthy fats:

• Fruits and vegetables – boldly colourful, non-starchy vegetables and fresh fruits are highly advised because they’re rich in antioxidants (which help the immune system combat free radicals and prevent inflammation), such as dark leafy greens (collards, kale and spinach), cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower), root vegetables (rutabaga and sweet potatoes) and garlic, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Fruit-wise, try to concentrate on berries (blackberries, blueberries, cranberries and raspberries), citrus fruits (lemons, limes and oranges), stone fruits (avocados, cherries, nectarines, olives and plums) and pome fruits (apples, pears and quinces).

• Gluten-free whole grains – these deliver the double-whammy that’s antioxidants and fibre, while it’s believed they also aid the rise in the body of the C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker; aim for the likes of barley, buckwheat, brown rice, oats and quinoa.

• Nuts and seeds – monounsaturated fat features highly in both, as well as heart-healthy fibre; go for almonds, cashews, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and unsalted walnuts.

• Herbs and spices – these contain many antioxidants; turmeric is particularly potent because it comprises curcumin, which is excellent for helping to normalise redness and swelling.

Inflammatory foods to avoid

Conversely, important foods to avoid are:

• Processed food – usually low in nutrients and fibre, the likes of chips, white bread, pasta, boxed breakfast cereals and frozen dinners tend to be high in omega-6 fats (not good without omega-3 fats because, on their own, they encourage inflammation; see above), as well saturated fats, trans fats and added sugars.

• Sugar – because it causes the body to release cytokines (chemical messengers that wake up the immune system), sugar can help generate systemic swelling in the body; so try to avoid cakes, cookies, ice cream, sodas, sweets and sweet tea, as well as chemical sweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup.

• Fried food – most often fried in unhealthy oils, these contain inflammation-triggering saturated fats and trans fats; steer clear then of the likes of snack foods and doughnuts.

Inflammation supplements

Obviously, the above list you’re advised to buy from, for an anti-inflammatory diet, is full of very specific foods. Now, that’s all very well and good but, as we all know, it’s not always easy – sometimes next to impossible – to get your hands on very particular foods on every supermarket shop. What to do instead? Well, naturally-derived, anti-inflammatory supplements may well be something you want to take a look at. We advise you check out our ‘Pain and Inflammation’ products page for exactly this sort of supplement; examples of what you’ll find there, which we highly recommend, are:

Very high-strength Serrapeptase (1,000,000iu/ 90 capsules) – a natural supplement form of the powerful anti-inflammatory enzyme Serrapeptase, it could well prove useful for post-traumatic swelling and fibrocystic breast disease and bronchitis, as well as for balancing fluid levels and for muscle- and joint-health.

Liposomal Curcumin C3 Complex (250ml) – comprises a blend of curcuminoids, not just curcumin; in addition to reducing inflammation (see above), it may well soothe and support the gut’s lining, support immunity and maintain prostate wellness.

MSM Powder (1,000g) – important not just for collagen generation and cartilage formation, MSM helps to maintain joint and muscle health and may also aid the immune system and so keep inflammation in check.

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

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

B12’s four different forms

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

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

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

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

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

What does B12 do for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vitamin B12 supplements

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

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