General Health & Nutrition

Great for gut health: opting for an Optibac Probiotics double

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.

optibac probiotic

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.

General Health & Nutrition

Inflammation information: anti-inflammatory diets and supplements

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.

serrapeptase

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.

Covid And Vaccination Newsletters

Vitamin D & Vitamin C and Coronavirus

Since the Covid-19 epidemic started multiple studies have repeatedly shown a link to Vitamin D deficiency yet when Matt Hancock was asked about it he WRONGLY said a British study had found the opposite. Is he ignorant or incompetent?

These aren’t our words. It’s a headline, from an article published in The Daily Mail found here. There was a similar article in The Daily Telegraph and in other newspapers within the last few days. 

I don’t disagree with the headline above, but sadly, I think it’s more sinister than “ignorance” or “incompetence” – not that I rule out a good dollop of stupidity and ineptitude too. I think this is all about protecting vested interests. You know who I’m talking about. I’m not going to spell it out, as I do not believe anyone is so thick as to not know which organisations I am talking about, but I will state they are large companies, who have no genuine interest whatsoever in public health who will do literally anything to ensure they trade with maximum profit, and minimal accountability, including produce fake studies if that’s what it takes. A perfect example was the fake study showing that hydroxychloroquine was “dangerous” even though nobody has noticed it was “dangerous” for 70 years until it posed a threat to those vested interests. I’ve discussed this in previous newsletters, so I’m not going over that one again. This week it was reported in the newspapers that the Chief Scientific Officer, Patrick Vallance has £600,000 of shares in one of these nice cuddly companies. The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Witty used to work for one of them. Probably still has a few mates there wouldn’t you think? Well call me Mr Conspiracy Theory if you want, but isn’t this at least a bit dodgy? Isn’t there something of a conflict of interest here? And these are the two primary men who advise Boris. There are authoratative virologists, biomedical scientists and doctors who do not agree with Witty and Vallance, who do not have such conflicts of interests. We aren’t talking about one or two eccentrics. Here is a statement signed off on by hundreds of doctors and medical scientists putting forward a different point of view. Why aren’t Boris and Hancock listening to them too?

Those that have the time will doubtless read the entire article cited above. I’m just going to copy what I regard as the most critical bit here…

A mountain of studies have found an overwhelming amount of people who test positive for Covid-19 do not have enough vitamin D in their bodies and the sickest of patients are often deficient. Scientists have not yet been able to pin down whether the nutrient deficiency is making people more vulnerable to the disease or whether becoming unwell causes vitamin D levels to crash.

But vitamin D supplements are safe, cheap and readily available – costing as little as 6p a pill and sold in most pharmacies, supermarkets and health shops – which has left experts baffled as to why Mr Hancock would be so quick to dismiss them. 

Two leading leading doctors told MailOnline that politicians and scientists were so hellbent on getting a vaccine – the Government has pumped hundreds of millions into jab development projects – that they had overlooked the potential of vitamin D and boosting people’s immune systems, which they say is a far less glamorous option.

I’ve been through this before of course, but here is the essence of it again…

Vitamin D – The Life Saving Immune Supporter – Strengthening Our Bodies Against ALL Viral Illness.

Here I want to acknowledge the wonderful Vlogger Ivor Cummins and refer people to his YouTube video found here. This video discusses the study, which I am sure you won’t be seeing on BBC News showing that those who’s Vitamin D level was below 10ng/ml were 10.1 x more likely to die from the virus than those who’s blood level was about 30ng/ml. (note: ng/ml – nanograms per millimeter of blood. In the UK its measured in nmol/L instead, which can be a bit confusing as this gives a figure which at first glance looks 2.5 x higher than ng/ml).

What’s interesting is that even this study misses an important point. The optimal level is not 30ng/ml. Iregard that as the minimum acceptable level. The optimal level is about 60ng/ml. How do we know this? It’s pretty easy really. Basically when we manage to get as much of our bodies as possible in the sun regularly (without burning), and when the sun is at an angle of above a minimum of 30 degrees to the earth (in the UK we have this for 8 months of the year, but only for a brief period of the day during the transition months of October and March) weakest sun months of that time), and 40 degrees for dark skinned people, we get up to 60-80ng within a couple of weeks. It never goes much above or below that no matter how much time we spend in the sun. And that’s the optimal level at 50 or more rather than the barely enough level of 30. Had the study been based on the optimal amount, not the minimum amount, one can only assume it would not be a 10.1 x higher risk for death. The difference would be far more impressive! You can see the risk of death from Coronavirus in visual terms to the left (this is a screen shot from the highly recommended aforementioned YouTube video) plotting the risk of death against vitamin D status. You don’t need to be a Professor of statistics to understand it.

Regarding what I regard as the utter, utter drivel around the R number I also highly recommend this short video found here.

Vitamin D Supplements

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 mainstream, which is almost useless. Suitable for sublingual absorption or chewing. And it comes with the added advantage of containing Vitamin K2, which ideally should always be combined with Vitamin D. This will be subject of another newsletter as the K2 has tremdendous benefits of its own for immunity, arterial health and much more besides. Recommended usage: One a day every day except on days when your body has had or is going to get enough sun. 

Another excellent choice is Liposomal Vitamin D3/K2which is the one to go for if you prefer a liquid to the sublingual tablet. For those who want a lower strength Vitamin D product, we provide several others choices. 

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, but oral supplements are still very effective. In Shanghai Dr Richard Cheng led the way, and at one time there were numerous reports found on the internet and YouTube detailing the results of his work with patients including several interviews with him, and several more reported on by the likes Dr Andrew Saul M.D. (who had an interview with him removed by YouTube for violating their community guidelines, in other words tell the truth as an experienced doctor who was actually treating people) and Dr Joeseph Mercola. 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 who care so deeply about you. 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 (maybe Matt Hancock should join them) 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. 

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

You can view all the Vitamin C products we provide here. The most popular one is this one, although the Liposomal Vitamin C products (better absorption, but significantly more expensive) are now not far behind. 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. 

In Summary…

I am not stating that Vitamin D and Vitamin C are 100% guaranteed answers to anything. No one product is a guaranteed cure for anything by itself. But I am 100% sure that if we all supplemented even just with these two nutrients, the amount of suffering from viral illness would go down tremendously – I’m talking here about the occurrence, and most certainly the duration and severity.

For those who want to go a step further we recommend our anti viral herbal products such as Galangal Formula. This is a 7 herb formula, put together to help deter viremia, consisting of Galangal, Oregano, Guarana, Korean ginseng, Thyme, Maca, Cayenne, and Lemon balm. 

Other anti viral products we provide include herbal products such as Oregatrex or Samento, nutrients which well prevent viral replication such as Zinc and Selenium or the “all in one” product Antioxidant Supreme,, and Glutathione, NAC (which amongst other things, produces glutathione), Colostrum and Camu Formula which support the immune system. Another product which does more or less all of the above, is Olive Leaf Extract. Just this week, I read an article entitled “The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Upper Respiratory Illness in High School Athletes: A Randomised Control Trial“, which showed excellent results, and frankly, with pretty feeble dosages! Had they used super dosages (I recommend 3 capules as much as 3 x per day for acute situations), the results would have been even better!

Virtually everyone can be prevented from becoming seriously ill from viral infection

I sincerely believe this statement. If you are taking your health seriously, there is more than enough ways to keep your immunity strong, so that viruses should not be a major concern. Wearing a worthless cloth over your face which causes hypoxia and hypercapnia, and keeping a mile away from other people is NOT the answer! Neither is poisoning your bloodstream with an untested, experimental “vaccination”. Doubtless a few people will write to me telling me that this opinion is “irresponsible”. My answer is don’t bother, if that’s what you think, my answer will be why aren’t you being responsible by taking care of, and having faith in your immune system? The answer is to take responsibility for your health and your immunity, not wearing bits of cloth over your face which are so porous that a virus (1/1000th the size of a bacteria) will travel through it like a fly would go through a tennis court net. 

Be well, and may the force be with you

Mark Lester
Director  – The Finchley Clinic Ltd
www.thefinchleyclinic.com

General Health & Nutrition

Be aware about B12: why it’s so much more than the ‘energy vitamin’

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).

b12 tri-blend

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?

General Health & Nutrition

A Healthy Immune System In Autumn

This year has been the first time in my career working in the natural healthy industry where a significant number people have been willing to invest in their health when they didn’t already have an illness for which they were looking for a solution. This year, because of ‘the virus’ many people have become proactive rather than just reactive when they were already in trouble. I welcome this, though I wish people wouldn’t have to be panicked into treating their health as a priority, but instead would have chosen to do it anyway to improve their quality of life, and the length of their lives. 

Anyway, before I discuss what you can do to improve your immunity, I am going to mention some things that do not improve immunity

  • Your immune system does not become stronger as a result of standing two meters apart from other people*
  • Your immune system does not become stronger as a result of wearing a cloth over your face (Actually in certain respects it weakens it. It’s no coincidence that people with respiratory illness are exempt from wearing useless rags over their airways)
  • Your immune system does not become stronger as result of obsessive hand washing
  • Your immune system does not become stronger by being socially isolated (all studies show it has the exact opposite effect)
  • Your immune system does not become stronger by being prevented by our own governments from living life in what most people would regard as a reasonably normal way
  • Your immune system does not become stronger by poisoning you bloodstream with a vaccination. Irritating the immune system is not the same thing as strengthening the immune system. There are entire books written on this subject, and its too big a subject to go into here. If you want to starting going down this rabbit hole, this video, which to my amazement has not been banned yet by YouTube (though inevitably it will be), is a damn good start. 

* Side note: Even if I did believe in social distancing, which I don’t, as Dr Vernon Coleman, a retired G.P. writes “A cough can spread droplets for 18 feet. A sneeze can travel 24 feet. So if we are going to have social distancing they’ve got the distance wrong. Really, it ought to be 30 feet to be safe. A six feet limit is arbitrary and utterly pointless“. 

* Side note II. Again I quote here from Dr Vernon Coleman. “I plucked up the courage to take a look at the BBC website the other day and found the official rules on how and when people are allowed to meet one another. In England six people from multiple households, or up to 30 people from two households can meet together outdoors. They must not get closer than more than three feet three inches. In Scotland up to 15 people from up to five households can meet as long as they all keep six feet six inches apart. In Wales any number of people from two households can meet as long as they are six feet six inches apart. And in Northern Ireland up to 30 people can meet outdoors but must keep three feet three inches apart. The rules are equally confusing for indoor meetings. In England two households can meet together, in Scotland eight people from three households can meet, in Wales two households can form one extended household (whatever that means – it sounds like Welsh wife swapping to me) and in Northern Ireland ten people from four households can meet. There is no advice on what happens to citizens who live on a border between two countries.The one conclusion from all this bollocks is that there is no science to any of this. Idiot civil servants and politicians have clearly just made it all up”.

Sorry about the bad language there, but if we are going to quote someone, we are going to do it accurately. 

From http://www.vernoncoleman.com/main.htm – highly recommended web site. It is to my regret that I didn’t note down at the time which specific blogs on the site that these quotes are taken from, as there are quite a lot to trawl through. If anyone spots them, please send the specific links to me directly – mark@thefinchleyclinic.com

So what does make the immune system stronger?

Actually, there are a vast number of immune system boosting and nourishing nutrients and botanicals, so I am going to have to pick out my personal favourites here. These being

1. Vitamin D3 with K2. You need both nutrients in combination for optimal results. The one I personally take is available here. We have ventured into this topic in more depth many previous newsletters. In order to avoid repeating myself, especially in regard to Vitamin D and Coronavirus, please read this article. 

2. Antioxidants – starting with the bost ‘basic’ ones – Vitamin C, Selenium and Zinc. Taking some or all of them individually is great, and we have numerous options for doing that, but for those who want to take all their basic antioxidants this is a pain. My favourite all in one solution is Antioxidant Supreme – though to get therapeutic dosages I do recommend fairly high dosages – two capsules two or three times per day.  A vast amount of thought has been put into this formulation in terms of what to include, what not to include, and the proportions to make a well balanced product, and we think our supplier has got it right with this one. Take additional Vitamin C if you do get a cold or flu. Scientist Linus Pauling, who won two Nobel prizes twice recommended as much as 18g per day if you have a virus, and 3g per day for general health. Many of his fellow scientific colleagues sneered at him. They popped their cloggs at the usual time whereas he lived to be 94 and worked until two weeks from the day he died of old age, and claimed he never got ill. 

3. Oxygen Elements Max or the very similar Oxylift – just take it away from vitamin C products by two hours or more for best results (but do not worry about the vitamin C in fruit, we are talking about supplemental quantities only). As well as boosting the immune system, they are also directly antiviral and antimicrobial. At the risk of repeating myself, below are the results of some tests carried out on Oxylift soon after it was launched, which the supplier was kind enough to share with me at the time, against a range of microbes that we would be best off not having in our bodies. As you can see, it shows that it killed all of the microorganisms tested by the 7th day, with no regrowth detected by the 14th day. 

4. Samento

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 available in capsules or a pleasant tea, they can select Cat’s Claw instead, which is a herb from the same family as Samento. It has the same properties (like say an Orange and a Tangerine), thought somewhat less strongly. For sensitive people, this may be the better option than Samento, which doesn’t take any prisoners. 

5. Camu Formula (Immunity Formula). This polyherbal formula was originally marketed as Immurejuve prior to the EU in their idiocy, banning brand names for herbal product (not that anyone is taking much notice of the regulations anyway). It goes beautifully with Galangal Formula which is another herbal formulation designed to ward off viruses. Their claim to fame is the unique way in which they were developed. As the formulator explained…

“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 Wild Endive Formula) that she had been prescribed had literally saved her life by lifting her depression so quickly.”

5. Pau D’Arco

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. As is the case with many rainforest herbs, Pau d’Arco is poorly understood by many Western herbalists and health professionals, and is the subject of some confusion with relation to its safety. Studies conducted using extremely high doses of isolated naphthoquinones, primarily lapachol, from Pau d’Arco, were found to produce undesirable side effects such as intestinal bleeding – but use of the whole herb is completely safe at recommended doses. Pau d’Arco is popularly used and effective against 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.

Conclusion

Because there are so many immune boosting nutrients, herbs and so on, I’m nowhere near finished what I’d like to say. In fact I feel I’ve barely begun! But as this is a newsletter rather than a book, I’ll leave it there. You don’t have to use all of these products. But you’ve got more than enough information here to keep your immune system strong, so that pathogens will pose a much, much lower risk to your health than they otherwise might. 

Best Wishes

Mark G. Lester
Director – The Finchley Clinic Ltd

www.thefinchleyclinic.com

General Health & Nutrition

Sevenlac: the new word in probiotic supplements?

Regular Finchley Clinic customers – and, especially, regular readers of this blog – will surely be aware of the high esteem in which we hold the Global Health Trax (GHT) probiotic supplements, Threelac and Fivelac.

For many years, we’ve trumpeted and met with much agreement from our loyal customers over the fantastic merits of these two products. And yet, we’re happy to announce, there’s a new contender in town for their collective crown in the probiotic supplement stakes.

Taking after its forebears, GHT’s new offering, Sevenlac, comprises several probiotic strains (you guessed it; seven), suggesting that it *could* be an improvement on both Threelac (with its three strains) and Fivelac (with its five). Not least because Sevenlac offers up all five of Fivelac’s strains and then an extra two – one of which is the brand new Lactobacillus johnsonii train, of which GHT has high hopes, claiming it has ‘provocative possibilities’, including potentially ‘positive effects on the immune system’

Sevenlac probiotic strains

To be clear, then; according to GHT, Sevenlac’s proprietary formula contains the following active probiotic strains:

  • Bacillus coagulans – may help control intermittent digestion/ stomach issues
  • Bacillus subtilis – may crowd out ‘bad bacteria’ in the gut
  • Enterococcus faecalis – boosts the gut levels of a major genus within the lactic acid bacteria group; one that naturally inhabits the digestive tract
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus – breaks down nutrients in the gut to produce the likes of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, thereby helping create an optimal intestinal flora
  • Bifidobacterium longum – may aid the smooth running of the digestive system
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus – may prevent and treat cases of diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis
  • Lactobacillus johnsonii – in positively affecting the immune system, this new probiotic strain may inhibit the growth of pathogenic bad bacteria and the production of gastrin (reducing acidity in the gut).

What might Sevenlac do for you?

SevenlacIf you’re not that familiar with probiotics and what’s so good about them, let’s take a quick look at why they can contribute so effectively to gut health and, therefore, to overall health – and so why Sevenlac may be a good supplement to try. The fact is that, by significantly boosting the levels of ‘good bacteria’ with all their health-giving properties in the intestinal tract, a course of naturally-derived probiotics (like Threelac, Fivelac or indeed Sevenlac) is terrific for repopulating your gut’s intestinal flora in the most positive way possible.

That’s to say, loading up your gut with these good bacteria can effectively crowd out the aforementioned pathogenic bad bacteria (which can cause microbial infection via yeast overgrowth and affect the efficacy of the immune system); thereby tipping the gut’s bacteria balance back in the direction it should be for healthy living.

Better than Threelac and Fivelac?

Not only does Sevenlac comprise seven different probiotic strains – three of which are to be found in Threelac and five in Fivelac – we think it’s also reasonable to assume that, as this new product has been entirely developed and released by GHT, it will contain the same sort of numbers of each of its live bacteria as the previous two GHT supplements do. That means that Sevenlac most likely comprises around 500 million of each of its seven live bacteria, ensuring there’s something like a total 3.5 billion live bacteria in each Sevenlac sachet available from us.

Now, if you know anything about probiotics, you may conclude this isn’t a particularly high count of live bacteria for a modern probiotic product to offer. Yet, like GHT, we at The Finchley Clinic don’t believe however billion live bacteria a probiotic offers a customer is necessarily as important as other (so-called) experts do. We believe it’s surely much more important what specific probiotic strains a supplement contains and, therefore, what an overall supplement can do for an individual. So, if Sevenlac’s seven strains prove to be collectively better for a customer’s gut health than Threelac’s three or Fivelac’s five, then clearly that’s significant.

Moreover, unlike Threelac and Fivelac, Sevenlac doesn’t contain canola oil; an oil ingredient that we don’t believe offers the finest health benefits. Instead, it comprises sunflower oil, which we feel is a better bet from a health-giving perspective.

So, to conclude, if you’ve got on well with Threelac and/ or Fivelac before now and you’re curious about Sevenlac (and, even if you’ve not tried either of its predecessor products but feel it sounds like it could do positive work for you), our advice is to give Sevenlac a go and see what you think. And be sure to let us know, too, we’d love to hear your feedback – we’re currently offering customers a 60-day price-back guarantee if they’re not entirely satisfied with this new probiotic product.

General Health & Nutrition

Like mother’s milk? The many benefits of Colostrum Organic

Enormously nutritious and comprising high levels of essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antibodies, colostrum is the naturally-occurring fluid that promotes growth and health in infants and newly-born animals. Yet, so potent and nutritious is it, research shows that, when consumed in supplement form by adults, it may also promote immunity, help fight infections and improve gut health. And that’s why, at The Finchley Clinic, we’re more than happy to introduce you to Colostrum Organic (120 capsules).

Colostrum Organic – a highly nutritious product

Colostrum OrganicTo be precise, colostrum is a milky fluid released by mammal mothers who’ve just given birth, but before production of their breast milk has begun. So, it’s a critically significant nutrient source for just-delivered infants (of all mammal species; not least human babies); promoting, as it does, growth and helping staving off/ fight potential infant diseases. And yet, as noted, it’s also entirely safe and acceptable to be consumed by human adults, years after infanthood.

Now, for its part, Colostrum Organic is a totally organically-sourced form of colostrum; being derived from EU bovine herds and very similar to human colostrum. Each and every batch of the product is tested, so it can be declared free of harmful hormones, antibiotics and pesticides ahead of being sold. It’s rich in a balanced blend of disease-fighting proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, growth hormones, vitamins (among them Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E), minerals (calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc) and digestive enzymes.

Immune factors and growth factors – and more

Importantly, when it comes to this colostrum supplement, you’ll find that, among its more-than 90 components are nutrients that can be grouped together in two different classes: immune factors and growth factors. Immune factors have been shown to help the body fight off harmful invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus. And, in Colostrum Organic, their work is enhanced by its plentiful antibodies, which like nothing more than to get involved in the body’s immune response to infections, including those caused by bacteria and viruses; especially the antibodies IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Conversely, once absorbed into the body, growth factors become busy in the building and restoration work of bone, muscle, nerve tissue, connective tissue, skin and cartilage; as well as helping to increase lean muscle, burn fat for fuel and aiding wound-healing. Colostrum Organic is especially rich in two growth factors, the insulin-like, protein-based hormones that are growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2).

Health benefits of Colostrum Organic

So, to be more specific, Colostrum Organic may well:

  • Boost immunity – thanks to its high concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG, the supplement offers impressive immunity-boosting credentials; in fact, a study discovered that, taken daily, a colostrum supplement increased the IgA antibodies in distance runners’ saliva by 79%, compared to baseline levels, while researchers believe IgA levels in saliva may boost immunity and improve the body’s capacity to battle upper respiratory tract infections
  • Prevent/ treat diarrhoea – Colostrum Organic’s blend of antibodies, as well as the protein lactoferrin, may well help prevent diarrhoea, when it’s associated with bacterial and viral infections; a study of adults suffering with diarrhoea, when associated with HIV, revealed that 100 grams of colostrum each day (along with traditional anti-diarrhoeal medications) decreased stool frequency 21% more than traditional medications did, on their own.

Moreover, colostrum is often considered hyperimmune, implying it may be effective in treating infections in humans, including those caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), candida, cryptosporidia, H pylori rotavirus, salmonella, Shigella dysenteriae bacteria, staphylococcus and streptococcus.

  • Improve gut health – Colostrum Organic, too, may help strengthen the linings of your gut and battle infections there (most likely thanks to both its growth factors and lactoferrin); studies show that, in addition to strengthening the gut wall, it may stimulate growth of intestinal cells and help prevent intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), a condition that sees gut particles leak out into the rest of the body.

So, rich in disease-fighting compounds, Colostrum Organic may well improve resistance to viruses and auto-immune disorders; help strengthen your immune system; support cardiovascular function; support healing of injured tissue (and lead to softer skin and reduce wrinkles); increase muscle tone; boost energy (and enhance strength and stamina during exercise); improve mental alertness and positive mood; fight infections that could cause diarrhoea; and improve gut health.

In which case, this potent supplement may well be especially helpful if you have a specific condition, infection or gut inflammation – and, even if you don’t, it may well do you a great deal of good.

General Health & Nutrition

Suffering from hay fever? Here’s how to get your sanity back!

It may have turned out to be a challenging year but summer’s here, at least. And yet, for some, summer brings with it natural challenges each and every year. While many are enjoying being outdoors and enjoying all manner of activities in the sun, others find themselves trying to mitigate the effects on their lives of seasonal allergies; most commonly, of course, hay fever and the allergic reactions it brings due to a dramatic increase in pollen.

It’s estimated that as many as 13 million people in the UK are hay fever sufferers – that’s almost one fifth of the country’s entire population – while around 35 million Americans put up with seasonal allergies every year (just over 10% of the total US population). So, make no mistake; environmental allergies and, with them, symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throats and a general foggy lethargy, are a big deal for many people.

Preventing seasonal allergies – and their symptoms

As you’re no doubt aware, many sufferers of seasonal allergies simply reach for temporary medication to mitigate the symptoms they bring. However, finding exactly the right treatment for you as an individual is far from an exact science – indeed, from one year to the next, millions never really come across a course of tablets (or other medication) that satisfactorily does the trick in these spring and summer months.

So, is there another way? Well, have you ever considered a far more natural approach to trying to reduce the symptoms of hay fever and similar seasonal allergies – and even preventing their occurrence, in the first place? Here are some ideas and tips you might want to try if the warmer, drier weather of May, June and July can make your life a misery:

  • Improve your diet – it may seem unlikely at first, but an improved diet can help ward off allergies and that’s because the healthier your body is, the better capable its immune system is to counter the everyday allergies it encounters; indeed, scientific research on the Greek island of Crete concluded that nasal allergies barely existed there, seemingly because native islanders’ diets are focused around fatty acid-packed fish, cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fruits and vegetables, ensuring the diet’s antioxidant-rich and great for supporting the health of the upper respiratory tract
  • Purify your home and remove your carpets – tackling your living environment and trying to rid it of pollen and mites is another very important step in the battle to keep seasonal allergy symptoms in check; to do so, you might consider investing in an air purification system (with a UV/ negative ion filter) and, considering carpets naturally retain pollen, dust and pet dander, replace them with non-toxic hardwood/ cork flooring
  • Go for organic bedding – the same goes for your home’s bedding; you’re highly advised to purify your haven of rest by purchasing a high-quality, allergy-free cover for your mattresses and pillows and to wash your bedding once a week to kill and, thus, prevent the accumulation of dust mites
  • Use organic cleaning products – if you’re prone to allergies, then you might want to re-think the cleaning products you use, given the chemicals and fumes from many supermarket-purchased cleaning agents can help trigger allergic reactions, especially in the spring and summer months; a better bet, then, is to plump for non-toxic, organic cleaning products
  • Try taking oregano oil – for many people, it seems that oregano oil contributes to feeling better when suffering from the aforementioned (and widely known) common symptoms of seasonal allergies; thanks to its ability to reduce histamine levels in the blood, the oil is liable to combat allergic reactions, including the likes of skin swelling
  • Get mould out of your home and office – sure, pollen’s an obvious cause of spring/ summer allergies but mould plays its role too; an increase in heat in conjunction with a rise in humidity tends to see mould form in indoor working and living spaces, so a good idea is to invest in a high-quality dehumidifier in an effort to prevent mould from forming in the first place.

Hay fever supplements

In addition to trying one – or, indeed, all – of the above suggestions, there is another course of action open to you in the fight against seasonal allergies (should you want to avoid relying on the likes of antihistamine medication); that’s to go the natural supplement route.

Here, at The Finchley Clinic, we’ve put together a handy kit of high-quality, entirely naturally-sourced supplements that, yes, might just help you get your sanity back this spring/ summer, in this most trying of years for so many. The Hayfever ‘Get Your Sanity Back’ Kit consists of:

  • Allertrex– a blend of powerful botanical ingredients and essential oils that support normal function and cleansing of the lungs, sinuses and respiratory tract
  • HistX– combines Vitamin C and Quercetin in a liposomal form, ensuring almost perfect absorption as a result of the unique and industry leading liposomal process; together, Liposomal Quercetin and Vitamin C make for an amazing one-two in battling allergies and inflammation, anywhere in the body
  • OptiBac Probiotics For Daily Wellbeing Extra Strength– contains the potent probiotics L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis Bi-04; a recent clinical trial has shown this specific probiotic combination reduced the symptoms of nasal irritation in birch tree pollen sufferers.
Covid And Vaccination Newsletters

COVID19: And They Have The Cheek To Accuse US as being the one’s spreading “misinformation”

Usually I write newsletters to promote our products. Well this time, I’m damn angry!

Vitamin D: I am going to start this article with the genuine misinformation, ever influenced by vested interests, then we’ll get to the truth of the matter.

The UK Government agency tasked with undertaking a rapid evidence summary of vitamin D’s potential role in reducing the risks from Coronavirus has concluded that there is “no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to specifically prevent or treat COVID‑19″. The review was ordered by Public Health England in response to work by researchers suggesting that vitamin D may prime the body’s defences against Covid-19.  Researchers at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reviewed five relevant observational studies (D’Avolio et al. 2020 , Hastie et al. 2020 , Ilie et al. 2020 , Laird et al. 2020  and Fasano et al. 2020), noting that none were intervention trials of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention or treatment of COVID‑19. The agency concluded that all five studies had a “high risk of bias because of “the very low quality of evidence”, and that no causal relationship could be established after adjustment for confounders such as comorbidity, socio-demographics, ethnicity, BMI and other baseline factors. A separate rapid review, conducted by the Scientific Advisory Commission on Nutrition (SACN), assessed evidence on vitamin D and acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), although it did not look specifically at the effect of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 risk. This review also concluded that evidence currently does not support vitamin D supplementation to prevent ARTIs in the general UK population.

When I read this article reported on https://www.naturalproductsglobal.com/, more than one less than complimentary word was heard coming from my lips describing the thugs who compiled these “studies”.

They call themselves “Public Health England?”. They call themselves “The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence”? What a cheek! Perhaps they are reasonably knowledgeable on the subject of illness, but as far as I’m concerned they know next to nothing about wellness, and the advice they do provide on wellness is so awful as to be worse than keeping their mouths shut and not giving any advice at all.  

Having given their organisations these fancy names which seem to border on fraud, they make pronouncements which in my opinion border somewhere between mass murder and a cavalier attitude towards avoidable death and suffering. Worse still for black people, the obese, and the elderly as all three groups absorb vitamin D very poorly compared with white, slimmer and younger people, and all three groups are considered “high risk”. It’s interesting though that if you go beyond the headline announcement, these so-called scientists “did not look specifically at the effect of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 risk”. So these people who can’t even be bothered to do their research properly (or if they do, choose not present the results with integrity) are the same people who claim that people like me and in fact countless integrated doctors who risk their careers to express their opinion and so on are the ones spreading “misinformation”. Well call me Mr “He’s Got A Good Analogy” but never has a house made of straw looked so strawey! (Yes, I invented a new word to get my point across).

Anyway, my advice / ‘ignorant misinformation’ will be to continue taking Vitamin D3 (with K2) both short and long term along with a number of additional immune system promoting nutrients, though admittedly there’s less acute need to take Vitamin D  supplements in the summer providing that you’re managing to get in the sun regularly. Now, let’s get to the truth, at least as I see it. In answer to what in my view is the borderline fraudulent “research” alluded to above, below is a re-publication of the newsletter I wrote on this subject just a few weeks ago. I have improved / re-written some of it for the sake of increased clarity.

Antioxidants for Viral protection

OK, so I am not saying Vitamin D, which I am coming onto in a moment is the be all and end all. So first a quick reminder, as discussed in previous newsletters that Vitamin C, zinc, and selenium are all vital for robust immunity and preventing viral replication. It’s great for all three of them to be taken in an all in one solution such as Antioxidant Supreme (finally back in stock, after we were completely wiped out at the beginning of the current crisis). Many other nutrients and herbs are being shown to be useful but that’s a subject for another day, and something I have covered quite a lot in previous newsletters. If of the nutrients mentioned so far, you were to insist that you were only willing to take one, then take Vitamin C, described by cardiologist and world expert on the subject, Dr Thomas Levy as “an absolute anti-viral”. Everyone should take it! I’d also like to mention that the products I am discussing in this article are not just to be taken when you’re feeling nervous that you might get a virus. As beneficial as this may be, this nonetheless is an almost trivial usage of nutritional products. These are lifestyle products, which will make you live a longer and healthier life when taken as part of your regular health programme. They should be taken daily, just as you might drink a cup of tea or coffee on a daily basis. I do, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. 

Vitamin D and Covid-19 – Even the orthodox “authorities” and mainstream media are waking up (a bit).

If I were to pick one further nutrient that is more essential than almost anything else, it has to be Vitamin D, and even mainstream medicine is catching up now with what I have been saying from day one of the current crisis. The evidence that’s emerging now for Vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 is getting stronger and stronger. Even the mainstream press is catching on to this, even on most aspects of the current pandemic they just follow the mainstream narrative 99% of the time, which I totally disagree with. Whilst mentioning the mainstream media, here in the UK, the ONLY newspaper that could be bothered to genuinely cover the reasons for the ending of the “research” on Hydroxychloroquine and its benefits with COVID-19 before it had really even begun was The Guardian. Every newspaper should have been suspicious as it was plain weird. They are the only ones who could be bothered to raise an eyebrow when what happened in effect was, I am bitterly disappointed to say, obvious medical fraud designed to protect vested interests. This story / international disgrace, has been covered properly here. The other newspapers were at best asleep at the wheel, or more likely avoiding the subject in order to protect their advertising revenues being threatened by the vested interests that could be upset by something that worked and was cheap. Sorry for going off-topic here, but I had to mention it.

Anyway, back to Vitamin D – The Life Saving Immune Supporter – Strengthening Our Bodies Against ALL Viral Illness.

Here I want to acknowledge the wonderful Vlogger Ivor Cummins and refer people to his YouTube video found here. This video discusses the study, which I am sure you won’t be seeing on BBC News showing that those who’s Vitamin D level was below 10ng/ml were 10.1 x more likely to die from the virus than those who’s blood level was about 30ng/ml. (note: ng/ml – nanograms per millimeter of blood. In the UK its measured in nmol/L instead, which can be a bit confusing as this gives a figure which at first glance looks 2.5 x higher than ng/ml).

What’s interesting is that even this study misses an important point. The optimal level is not 30ng/ml. I regard that as the minimum acceptable level. The optimal level is about 60ng/ml. How do we know this? It’s pretty easy really. Basically when we manage to get as much of our bodies as possible in the sun regularly (without burning), and when the sun is at an angle of above a minimum of 30 degrees to the earth (in the UK we have this for 8 months of the year, but only for a brief period of the day during the transition months of October and March),  or a minimum 40 degrees for dark skinned people, we get up to 60-80ng within a couple of weeks. It never goes much above or below that no matter how much time we spend in the sun. And that’s the optimal level  – 50ng/ml or more rather than the barely enough level of 30ng/ml. Had the study been based on the optimal amount, not the minimum amount, one can only assume it would not be a 10.1 x higher risk for death. The difference would be far more impressive! You can see the risk of death from Coronavirus in visual terms to the left (this is a screen shot from the highly recommended aforementioned YouTube video) plotting the risk of death against vitamin D status. You don’t need to be a Professor of statistics to understand it.

Regarding what I regard as the drivel around the R number I also highly recommend this short video found here.

Vitamin D Supplements

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 mainstream, which is almost useless. Suitable for sublingual absorption or chewing. And it comes with the added advantage of containing 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 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. 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 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?)
  • 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?). 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 some 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. 

Be well!

Mark G. Lester

Director – The Finchley Clinic Ltd
www.thefinchleyclinic.com

General Health & Nutrition

Level up: tips, foods and supplements to boost your energy levels

Feeling more tired than usual? Low on energy? It’s a common thing, of course, but sometimes in our hectic modern world, it’s easy to overlook what we can – and ought – to do to recharge our body’s batteries correctly instead of simply going at the same ‘speed’ all the time. What ought we be putting time aside for to help recharge and improve our energy levels? The answer includes behaviours, activities, diet and – possibly – energy-boosting supplements…

Tips to boost your energy

So, how to help top up your energy levels when they’re low? The following are essential tips:

  • Get proper rest – adequate physical rest (and mental rest; see below) is absolutely critical for revitalising the body and ensuring it’s able to provide you consistent energy
  • Sleep hygiene – tied up with rest is, of course, decent sleep, which is crucial for replenishing energy; inevitably, sleep deprivation and insomnia have detrimental effects on energy levels (if you are suffering from the latter, it’s worth your time looking into the different ways to address it)
  • De-stress – again, related to rest and sleep, de-stressing at the end of the day or, rather, achieving both physical and mental relaxation is important; for instance, you might want to try meditation
  • Physical exercise – it may sound counter-intuitive (going out walking, running, cycling and so on to boost your energy levels), but keeping fit is important for good physical and mental health and ensuring your body is working as it should, therefore, in turn, ensuring the body is able to naturally replenish its energy levels.

Dietary tips for increasing energy levels

While seeking to achieve the right level of rest, relaxation, sleep and exercise, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that includes energy-boosting nutrients is equally as important. That doesn’t mean reaching for a highly-sugared energy drink every time your energy’s waning – instead, you’re advised to eat foods comprising nutrients whose ingredients include minerals, nutrients and vitamins that deliver high-quality, sustainable energy. The following are all good examples:

  • Beetroot and beetroot juice – terrific for folate (Vitamin B9), manganese and Vitamin C, beetroot contains the antioxidant phytonutrients that are betalains, ensuring they’re great for detoxing; energy-wise, it’s been found that, among athletes’ severe-intensity exercise, consumption of beetroot juice supplements helped increase stamina and energy by as much as 15%
  • Nuts – specifically, almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are rich in good protein and the bioavailable chemicals that are carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and phytosterols; all of which aid physical and mental health and so, in turn, support energy levels
  • Quinoa – a gluten-free grain packed full of protein, fatty acids, antioxidants and amino acids (lysine, methionine and cysteine), as well as the minerals folate, magnesium and manganese, quinoa’s brilliant for energy support
  • Spinach – an undoubted superfood, this green vegetable is chock-full of vitamins (A, C and K) and excellent nutrients, including calcium, iron, potassium and a highly bioavailable form of magnesium; the latter of which, studies have concluded, plays a role in more than 300 metabolic functions, such as generation and storage of cellular energy
  • Sweet potatoes – carbohydrate-lovers are in luck because these vegetables are a great low-glycaemic energy-driving option, which means they can help reduce blood sugar levels, weight and the risks of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes; they’re also rich in manganese, which aids in the breaking down of other nutrients in the body to generate energy
  • Chocolate – in mentioning chocolate here, we’re not suggesting sweetened chocolate bars, but dark chocolate; the cocoa in the latter comprises flavonoids that aid blood flow in the body, as well as brain function, thereby supporting mood management and balancing energy
  • Coffee – finally, while it’s widely known consuming too much coffee can have negative effects on the body, it makes it into our energy-supplying good books thanks to the rapid energy boost and increased mental alertness that caffeine can deliver, as well as the fact it’s full of antioxidants.

It may surprise you to learn, too, that those who enjoy drinking coffee also tend to enjoy longer-term energy, improved mood and generally better health, owing to its ability to help fend off cellular degeneration.

Energy supplements

Now, while it’s easy to buy a jar of coffee or a bar of dark chocolate, some may find it less easy, on a regular basis, getting hold of some of the other dietary suggestions mentioned above (and other energy-boosting foods you may research yourself). In which case, you might want to look at supplement options; check out the ‘Energy Boosters’ product page here at The Finchley Clinic – all of our offerings are derived from entirely natural sources and come well-recommended.

Indeed, among them you might be interested in the NADH and PQQ Mitochondrial Support Kit, which combines NADH Delayed Release capsules (20mg) with PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) capsules (20mg). The active coenzyme form of Vitamin B3, NADH provides energy to the brain, nerves, muscles and the heart; not least because it’s is absolutely crucial to the Krebs cycle, which occurs in all cells in order to release stored energy. For its part, like NADH, PQQ is an enzyme cofactor that promotes the growth of mitochondria in cells, ensuring it’s also crucial to energy generation and release. In addition to helping boost energy levels and stamina, it’s a powerful antioxidant, too, and may improve the quality and duration of sleep.

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