Have you heard of glutathione? Generated in the body’s cells, it’s a naturally occurring, effective antioxidant. Yet, as a statement, that’s hardly doing it justice – because glutathione is so impressive it’s sometimes referred to by those in the know as ‘the mother of all antioxidants’.

Largely composed of three different amino acids (glutamine, cysteine and glycine), glutathione is such a useful antioxidant that, frankly, if its levels in the body are reduced, which unfortunately does happen, it’s advisable to take steps to try and boost them.

Why might your body’s glutathione count decrease? Well factors like stress, environmental toxins and nutritional habits can all take their toll – as can age, inevitably. Upping one’s glutathione levels, then, can take various forms; intravenously, topically or (surely most easily and most popular) orally, via a high-quality, organically-sourced glutathione supplement. The latter option is the one we suggest you opt for.

More on that shortly, though, because it’s important to understand just why glutathione is so important for us – thanks to its outstanding antioxidant properties…

Why glutathione’s so important

As you may expect, glutathione’s excellent antioxidant capacity aids the body in a number of different areas:

• Reduces oxidative stress – oxidative stress occurs as a result of ‘free radical’ toxins being given too free a rein in the body and, because of the bacterial imbalance this creates, can lead to the development of illness and disease, such as various cancers, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis; too little glutathione in the body can lead to higher levels of oxidative stress, while more glutathione means higher antioxidant levels and, therefore, resistance to oxidative stress

• Decreases liver cell damage – when cells in the liver become damaged and die, this may bring on fatty liver disease (whether the liver is exposed to the effects of alcohol abuse or not); the liver cell damage can be exacerbated by an antioxidant deficiency, which can be prevented by increased glutathione levels

• Increases insulin resistance among older people – unfortunately, as they get older, people generate less glutathione, which means, according to studies, their bodies burn less fat; boosting their glutathione levels, then, can help to drive up their insulin resistance and ability to shed body fat

• Improves mobility for sufferers of peripheral artery disease – this illness occurs due to plaque obstructing peripheral arteries, often in the legs; glutathione is believed to aid circulation in these arteries and to help peripheral artery disease sufferers walk further, pain-free

• May combat the impact of autoimmune disease – owing to the fact autoimmune disease-caused chronic inflammation can drive up oxidative stress, glutathione is highly likely to reduce such oxidative stress (see above); autoimmune diseases concerned include the likes of celiac disease, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

• May address the effects of long-term high blood pressure and diabetes – linked to low glutathione levels and so, inevitably, oxidative stress, long-term high blood pressure (as well as uncontrolled diabetes) can be addressed, in this manner, via glutathione dietary supplements (especially when combined with cysteine and glycine).

The liposomal factor

Speaking of glutathione supplements, they’re certainly the source for this fantastic antioxidant that we recommend (as noted above). Yes, it’s definitely true you can try to boost your glutathione levels via specific foods, but that means incorporating into your diet *very* specific foods that are glutathione-rich. So, vegetables like asparagus, avocado, okra and spinach or raw/ very rare meat and unpasteurised milk/ dairy products – the latter of which are, of course, entirely unacceptable for vegetarians and/ or vegans.   

Instead, at The Finchley Clinic, we especially advise glutathione supplements created via the outstanding liposomal process. What’s this? Well, if a supplement’s referred to as a ‘liposomal’ supplement, it means it’s been prepared with the aid of applied nano-particle technology, which ensures the glutathione is highly bioavailable; maybe more so than in any other equivalent supplement.

For instance, in the latest supplement of its kind – the delicious-tasting Liposomal Glutathione Vanilla and Apricot flavour – the liposomal process ensures its microscopic offerings of glutathione are each encased in a nano-sized liposome bubble, so the stability of the chemical can be maintained on its journey through the digestive system.

This means the glutathione isn’t compromised and broken down by any digestive acids, so – once it reaches the gut – it can be fully absorbed and get about doing its antioxidant work in the body’s cells. In fact, this nano-particle technology ensures the body absorbs a liposomal supplement’s nutrients between seven and 10 times better than it does the equivalent nutrients from any non-liposomal supplements. A stark difference, indeed.

All of which means, then, that just a little of a liposomal glutathione supplement goes a long way – and, over time, a lot of it goes a *very* long way. And that’s precisely why we recommend liposomal glutathione supplements so highly and urge both our loyal and new customers to give them a try if they want to boost their glutathione levels.

Regular readers of this blog will, no doubt, be aware of just how important the digestive system is to the body’s overall health. Others, though, may not be. Not only is this part of the body responsible for the ingestion and processing of all the food and drink we consume, it’s also responsible for the gathering and processing of all nutrients and vitamins from our food and drink.

As such, then, it’s fundamentally where the immune system is based and where the tackling of many health-threatening illnesses, especially viruses and infections, begins – and, the bacteria in our gut actually plays a critical role in this, meaning it’s important this bacteria is balanced.

What does this mean? Well, when this colon-based bacteria – referred to as the microbiome – is out of whack (that is, harmful, externally-derived ‘bad bacteria’ outnumbers the health-enriching ‘good bacteria’), you can run into health problems. Indeed, many people are increasingly turning to good-quality, naturally-sourced probiotic products, which are packed full of those good bacteria, to get that gut balance right.

That’s all well and good, you might think, but what health problems are we talking about – how to know you may need probiotics…?

Digestive discomfort

With 90% of the human body’s bacteria calling the colon home, it’s hardly surprising all this bacteria can have a big influence on how the colon acts. A high-quality probiotic can be a great aid in both regulating bowel movement and potentially combating digestive discomfort, such as bloating and wind/ gas.

Moreover, research points to a connection between changes in gut bacteria (i.e. an increase in bad bacteria and a reduction in good bacteria) and age-related inflammation, thereby suggesting a boost to good bacteria levels could be important for health as we get older.

Major sugar cravings

You are what you eat, so the saying goes. While, strictly speaking, there’s only some truth in that, it does seem to be true that when we eat more of the foods we shouldn’t (those packed with saturated fats), it’s the bad bacteria in our colon encouraging us to eat them because they’re what *the bacteria* wants to eat. Sounds weird, right? Actually, it’s pretty smart – and probably should be concerning.

The fact of the matter is, for the harmful bad bacteria to survive, it needs to feed on – from its perspective – the right kind of food in your digestive system; namely, the sugars found in saturate fat. Therefore, it appears the bacteria eventually works out how to persuade you to eat more of that food to sustain its existence.

How can bacteria possibly do this? Well, there’s a nerve called the vagus nerve, which connects the gut with the brain, and experts believe bad bacteria in the microbiome uses this nerve to send signals to the brain; effectively asking us to eat the foods it needs.

Strains of bacteria are competitive, so some seek more of their food to crowd out their rivals and others, it seems, are even able to persuade someone’s taste buds to prefer their foods. Plus, some bad bacteria, evidence suggests, may adapt themselves to favour low fibre/ high sugar food diets that too many of us like – so, essentially, like their hosts, these bad bacteria have gained a sweet tooth.

A slowing metabolism

Findings from research, courtesy of Washington University School of Medicine, suggest people whose microbiome comprises a small variety of bacteria (that is, more bad than good) are more likely to be obese. Interesting? Yes, because it could indicate when bad bacteria are allowed free reign in your digestive system, you develop a slower metabolism and, therefore, a strong likelihood of your body retaining (saturate) fat and putting on weight and, eventually, becoming obese.

You’ve taken antibiotics – especially recently

To be clear, at the right time, antibiotics can be a critical treatment for sufferers of various different conditions – they even save people’s lives, of course. However, owing to their potency, antibiotics can harm even an otherwise healthy microbiome, killing off good bacteria there, in addition to whatever hazardous bacteria that’s invaded the body for which the antibiotics have been prescribed.

Skin issues (return)

Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis and itchy rashes are fundamentally associated with adolescence, but they can run well into and crop up again in adulthood. One of the reasons can be gut bacteria imbalance, believe it or not.

Indeed, research has found that the quality of bacteria residing in the digestive system can influence, well, the quality of one’s skin. Equally, then, a healthy microbiome can put things right with your body’s outside appearance – clear, healthy-looking skin being a by-product of getting your gut’s bacteria under control.

Optibac Probiotics

By now, then, it ought to be clear that improving your gut health and balancing out the bacteria in this part of your body may well be the answer for a wide range of health issues – in addition, of course, to adopting healthier eating habits and getting your diet right.

Indeed, by all means, take a look at our ‘Probiotics’ product page, here at The Finchley Clinic, to discover the different, entirely naturally-sourced, high-quality probiotic options available. A good example, we think, is the popular Optibac Probiotics for Every Day Extra Strength. Available in packets/ bottles of 90 capsules, it’s both vegan- and vegetarian-friendly, being a premium product that offers 20 billion live microorganisms, including five probiotic strains, not least the well-researched, highly regarded L. acidophilus NCFM – all for improved digestive health, immunity and energy levels.

So, who knows, it could be this probiotic product – or another, available through us – that proves just the thing to replenish those all-important good bacteria levels in your microbiome.

Arthritis is a highly common and indiscriminate ailment. It may mostly afflict older people, yet it’s so widespread complaint that it’s estimated, by the year 2040, 78 million people in the USA alone will suffer with arthritis. At first, this figure may sound rather remarkable, but then, when one considers just how common arthritis is in society, it becomes less outlandish; more very plausible.

All the more reason, then, whether you live in the United States or the UK (or, indeed, anywhere else) to be aware of just exactly what arthritis is, how to best treat it and how, if possible, prevent it occurring in the first place.

What is arthritis?

Not actually a single ailment, arthritis has up to 100 specific types, all of which come with differing manifestations and symptoms. In simple terms, though, arthritis occurs when someone experiences joint inflammation or joint disease; therefore, it tends to affect large joints in the body’s extremities – especially hands, wrists, fingers, knees, hips and ankles.

Without doubt, experiencing arthritis in the hands is common for a great number of sufferers, causing the likes of swelling, pain, stiffness and a limited amount of motion in the joints of the wrists and fingers. On the one hand, flare-ups in the hand can be very regular; on the other, people can go weeks a time between them.

Worse, though, sufferers can experience chronic arthritis in the hands, which makes even simple tasks difficult to complete; unfortunately, it doesn’t just affect the joints between bones, but also the cartilage that covers the surface of any bones near a joint, as well as the ligaments and tendons that connect and support the hand’s bones.

The different forms of arthritis that can affect your hands include:

• Osteoarthritis – the most common form, this chronic condition sees the cartilage at your joints degrade and break down, ensuring your bones rub against each other, thereby causing stiffness, pain and movement-loss

• Rheumatoid arthritis – a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when the body’s immune system unnecessarily attacks the synovium membrane, which lines the hand’s joints; symptoms tend to be pain, swelling, inflammation, loss of function and even malformation of the wrist and finger joints

• Juvenile arthritis – occurs in children and adolescents under the age of 16 and comes in different forms, resulting in pain and joint-swelling in the hands and wrists; it’s often precipitated by broken bones in the hands or by ligament and tendon damage in hands or wrists.

Arthritis treatments

Given its debilitating factor (i.e. symptoms only get worse in the long-term), arthritis is a disease that requires early detection for the best, most effective treatment. Many medical professionals tend to advocate aggressive treatment deployed in the early stages; indeed, you might well find such an expert referring to a ‘window of opportunity’ here – it’s often deemed to be within two years after the disease’s initial onset.

Now, while some arthritis treatments a sufferer may be recommended aren’t on the aggressive side (for instance, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – or NSAIDs – to help ease pain and inflammation), oftentimes aggressive treatment is, as mentioned, the recommended way to go. In extreme cases, even surgery could be deemed necessary, in order to correct or alleviate critical issues, especially if arthritis is starting to result in serious restrictions to movements of a limb/ limbs and, therefore, quality of life.

Arthritis prevention

There may not necessarily be a fail-safe way to prevent developing arthritis, especially in later life, but there are definitely some things you can try. It’s also worth pointing out that arthritis is more likely to occur in women than men and could be hereditary; your genetics may well increase the likelihood of it happening. All the same, prevention’s strongly advised to try to keep it at bay and to reduce its potential severity in later years and, to that end, you might want to try the following activities:

• Try to keep to a healthy weight

• Don’t smoke/ quit smoking

• Take care in a labour-intensive job to avoid injury to your joints when lifting, pulling and pushing heavy objects

• Practice good posture, especially if you’re employed in a desk-bound job; consider using a special keyboard, a wrist cushion or a pad for keyboard-typing

• Take up hand exercises to strengthen your hands’ muscles, to relieve stiffness and pain and to increase synovial fluid-function in the cartilage between their joints

• Try to take breaks when doing strenuous or repetitive activities.

Arthritis prevention supplements

Additionally, you could attempt to accommodate all the above steps with trying out an arthritis-focused, high-quality and totally naturally-sourced supplement. Newly available from us, at The Finchley Clinic, is the latest in the long line of Professor George Birkmayer’s NADH supplements – namely, NADH Arthros (NADH for Arthritis).

If you’re yet to learn about – let alone try any of the – NADH supplements, you doubtless won’t be aware they’re very popular with our regular customers; NADH itself being the shortened version of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride, a co-factor of more than 1,000 different essential enzymes in the human body. In its excellent supplement form, here, NADH is a potent antioxidant, may boost energy levels and stamina, reduce fatigue, protect against dementia and may help to provide energy to the brain, nerves, muscles and the heart.

Moreover, NADH Arthros – this new, specialised supplement offering – delivers a combination of NADH with glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and MSM (sulphur). Why? Because, when blended together, they may well contribute to the body keeping arthritis at bay. Indeed, the suppliers suggest you may well reap benefits if you take the supplement for up to four weeks; we would more conservatively suggest a regimen of NADH Arthros for two months is a better bet. However, unless our customers try it, we can’t be sure – so why not give it a try and let us know…?

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.