Environmental

  • Energy/ Environmental/ Exercise/ Five Tibetan Rites/ Health/ Mindfulness

    Exercise and Interaction

    Exercise and Interaction

    Exercise and interaction with your environment are two of the most important things that affect your vitality.

    First lets look at how we spend each day and become aware of what energises us and what drains us. Sometimes you might wake with energy and enthusiasm but how long does it last? What main things can bring that vitality down? Conflict is a big one, relationship problems, getting involved on social media before starting important tasks, long or difficult commutes to work, worrying and stress, lack of planning and feeling that you are not in control of your life.

    How can you improve that balance in your own life? Can you increase your activity level from what you do currently? Can you get outside more, stretch, walk, take the stairs not the lift. Just 15 minutes in the daylight and fresh air will boost your oxygen and D3 levels. A brisk walk, sweeping up, gardening can really lift your mood and make you feel more alive.
    “There is no such thing as bad weather – only the wrong clothes!”
    While outside, be in the moment, not on your phone, be aware of everything and everyone around you, the weather, seasonal changes and nature. Be grateful for the environment around you whether in the City or the country there are always things to appreciate like the simple joy of a sunrise or sunset. Yesterday I was travelling home from visiting The London Health Show packed into a train with hardly any room to move but the view of the sun setting over the river and the light on the buildings on a freezing cold evening was quite magical.

    Increase your exercise level with whatever you can enjoy and make a habit or ritual in your life. Stretch on waking like animals always do, balance on one leg while cleaning your teeth, some yoga or my favourite,The 5 Tibetan Rites, get a hula hoop or a small trampoline as exercise like these gets your bodies lymph flowing. Unlike your blood that is pumped around by your heart, lymph is mainly moved around the body by exercise and when you sit for hours you do not have good lymph flow and so do not get rid of toxins like you should (another big drain on vitality!)

    Diagram of movements for 5 Tibetan Rites…… Read More →

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  • Energy/ Environmental/ Health/ Sugar

    Regain HEALTH and VITALITY this year…

    Vitality and energy

    Would you love to regain your health and vitality this year, to have more energy to enjoy life?

    Most people feel they need a fresh start to a New Year and although for many it is to start yet another diet or join a gym it is hard to motivate yourself if you have low energy to start with.

    January in the Northern hemisphere is cold and damp with little sunshine and short days and so we often feel more like hibernating with a good supply of chocolate and even in warmer climes it can be difficult to go back to work after a good holiday. It is not a time to deprive yourself – so any New Year Resolutions that involved depriving yourself of things you enjoy are likely to have failed already!

    A new trend  is to pick a word (or words)for the year that motivates you on many levels. Find your own word that resonates and inspires you so that when you feel lacking in energy you can use your word to bring you back on track. I tend to procrastinate way too much so my word for the year is ‘FOCUS’.

    I love this trend because it is much more encompassing and less restrictive than making a Resolution like ‘I want to lose weight’ or ‘I want to get fit’. If you want to regain your health and vitality you need to work on many levels over time and build on the improvements so that they become part of your life and you mindset. Think of embracing changes over the whole year and look at all the aspects that impact on your health and energy.

    If you are not sure where to start, write down all of the key words on the tablet in the picture above and then go through them circling the ones that you feel you most need to work on. Don’t worry if you end up circling them all – it just shows how this can help and how every aspect of self-care is important!

    An optional extra is then to write yourself a note saying-

    ‘To improve my HEALTH and VITALITY I  need the right MINDSET and my word to remind and motivate me during the year is …………’  then stick it on your computer, bathroom mirror or fridge where you will see it daily.

    Many things can rob us of energy, Read More →

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  • Adrenal Fatigue/ Cancer./ Energy/ Environmental/ Health/ Hyperthyroidism/ Hypothyroidism/ Mineral Depletion/ Nutrition and Cancer/ Sizzling Minerals

    Interesting Iodine

    iodine deficiency

    Iodine deficiency is a global health concern. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 2 billion people may be iodine deficient with about 50 million of them suffering from deficiency disorders which can range from low energy, cognitive decline, thyroid and adrenal dysfunction to cardiovascular disease, fibrocystic breast disease and a variety of cancers, especially breast and stomach cancer. Research has linked Iodine deficiency with ADHD and Autism with rates rising dramatically over the last two decades. According to research in the USA Iodine levels have dropped by more than half since the 1970’s. Under production of the hormone thyroxine causes weakened neural connections in the brain/nervous system. Iodine is therefore especially necessary for pregnant women and the development of their babies.

    From about the 1920’s onwards many people were suffering the effects of iodine deficiency, sometimes developing a visible swelling at the front of the neck called a Goiter in adults and preventable mental retardation in children due to low levels of iodine in the soil and diet. Governments recognised the problem and decided to add iodine to table salt as a way of increasing iodine levels in the diet. Most salts do not contain enough iodine to rectify the problem and processed foods don’t have to contain iodised salt therefore coupled with the reduction in salt intake over the last 20 years we now have millions suffering deficiency disorders.

    Iodine and the amino acid tyrosine make up thyroid hormones that control metabolism, body temperature, heart rate and glucose and fat levels in the blood. Selenium, Zinc and iron are also co-factors for enzymes that contribute to healthy tissue in the body.

    Too much thyroid hormone results in hyperthyroidism – a high metabolic rate, rapid heart beat and often palpitations, feeling warmer than normal and excessive sweating. In extreme cases it can lead to muscle weakness and weight loss. Too little thyroid hormone results in hypothyroidism – with the opposite symptoms, slow heart rate, feeling cold, constipation, weight gain, dry skin and hair, muscle aches and weakness, depression and fatigue. Energy levels are affected via the thyroid adrenal axis  and so adrenal support is often needed as well as thyroid support.

    It is often confusing that Iodine deficiency can lead to both low thyroid function and hyperthyroidism but fortunately all iodine deficiency disorders and related health issues can be prevented and treated with adequate intake of Iodine. Anyone who has been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease or Graves disease should work with their doctor to assess and correct their Iodine levels.

    These actions, generally promoted as being healthy, can also reduce your available Iodine –

    1. decreasing your salt intake
    2. using salt that has little or no Iodine
    3. being on a vegetarian or vegan diet puts you in an at risk group because plants contain lower iodine than animal and dairy products. It is hard to get even the minimum daily 150 mcg without eating seafood, eggs or dairy but eating small amounts of seaweed would easily correct this imbalance.
    4. sweating profusely while exercising means iodine can be lost in substantial amounts and that also applies to those that work in hot, humid environments.

    How much Iodine do we need? Read More →

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  • Environmental/ Health/ Healthy Food/ Mineral Depletion/ Nutrition and Cancer/ Organic produce/ Toxin free products

    Does ‘Organic’ mean Healthy?

    Does ‘Organic’ mean healthy? A good question as some people may see the word Organic on a product and assume that it is automatically a healthy choice when this may not be the case.  If you are looking to buy natural produce like meat, vegetables or fruit then to buy Organic is preferable for reasons I will discuss below but is organic sugar healthy or organic soy?

    This was highlighted for me this week when I read about a Lawsuit in the USA against an Organic Infant Formula that carries the USDA Organic logo because of 26 ingredients that the prosecutors claim should not be in Organic food. The USDA Organic seal means that at least 95% of the ingredients need to be organic. The list of ingredients on the Infant Formula are Water, Organic nonfat milk, Organic Maltodextrin, Organic Sugar, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Soy Oil, Organic Coconut Oil and then less than 0.5% of the remaining ingredients that may not all be desirable but mainly are made up of Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids necessary for human health and brain development. I admit that if Breastfeeding is not an option it is difficult to know what formula would be best for your baby but it is necessary to look beyond the ‘Organic’ label and research what you feel would be best for your baby. I would not want to feed mine Maltodetrin because it is a highly processed grain starch with a glycemic index of 130 (as opposed to sugar at 65), Soy oil as soy bean allergy is one of the more common food allergies as well as acting as a hormone disruptor, also babies should not be fed Non-fat milk as they need the the milk fat and cholesterol and the fat soluble vitamins that it contains.

    For more information on choosing good infant formula click here.

    Processed foods labelled Organic are still frequently highly processed and may contain high levels of sugar, highly processed grains or hydrogenated fats that are definitely not healthy. I would encouraged you to read even more labels on food! Do not assume that anything from face cream to energy bars are good for you just because they are ‘Organic’. On the other hand I believe it is important to buy Organic fresh produce as much as you possibly can.

    Why you should eat Organic and support Organic farming for the good of your health and for the good of Planet Earth.

    dreamstime_s_6304437

    Farming has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Soils have become devoid of nutrients and life and crops are grown continuously for high yield with the addition of artificial fertilisers that frequently contain only 3 minerals NPK, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides the use of hybridised crops or GMO, genetically modified crops.

    Healthy soil is a living entity containing earthworms, centipedes, beetles, microbes, a good complement of the 90+ minerals, air and moisture. Researchers are increasing recognising that the health of our own human microbiome in our gut is essential to good health our health is dependant on the quality of the plants we eat and the optimization of the soil microbiome. It is the soil we need to feed and nurture not just the plants.

    DSCN2774-001

    Organic Farming develops healthy soil by rotating crops, using compost, manure and green crops such as clover that are ploughed back in and have the benefit of reducing soil erosion from wind and rain and nutrient loss by secreting sugars and enzymes back into the soil.

    • Organic Farming standards differ worldwide but generally feature practices that promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity with Synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers not allowed.
    • Organically approved pesticides may be used under certain limited conditions.
    • A study in 2014 showed that Organically grown crops contained 17% higher polyphenols (antioxidants that work in the body to enhance health and to reduce inflammation in complex ways) 69% higher Flavanones (which have an effect in preventing cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurogenative diseases like Alzheimer’s and improving bone health).
    • Pesticide residue was found in 7% of Organic samples and 38% in non-organic samples. 4x the amount.
    • Organic meat production requires that animals should only be fed certified organic food with no animal by-products, not given hormones and that antibiotics are only used when necessary.
    • Organic chicken has higher levels of healthy Omega3 fatty acids.

    Demand for Organic products has been growing and is up by more than 170% since 2002 and is currently growing by 15-20% a year and yet you will probably be surprised to learn that only 3.8% in the UK and 3.9% of land overall in Europe is Organically farmed. Land generally has to be farmed with Organic methods for at least three years before it can be classified as Organic. In the last year there has been a Worldwide awareness and outcry against the use of chemicals and pesticides that have been shown to impact our health.

    You might like to watch this Glyphosate Is Spreading Like A Cancer Across the U.S.

    So will you make more effort

    to Buy Organic?

    Grow your own?

    Visit Farmers Markets?

    Protest against the use of dangerous chemicals in our food chain?

    Just demand better, healthier food?

    I really hope so for our health and the health of our beautiful planet.

     

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  • Environmental/ Health/ Mineral Depletion/ Nutritional Medicine

    Why are you Mineral Deficient?

    Mineral Depletion

    With the amount of nutritional information, advice, seminars, tweets and articles on all social media I am amazed that being mineral deficient is very rarely mentioned.

    Why do we need minerals?

    Minerals – frequently referred to as ‘the spark of life’ or ‘natures spark plugs’ – are vital for the action of enzymes, vitamins and amino acids and without them you cannot function or heal properly.They are responsible for every activity in every cell in your body. Mineral Deficiency can occur over time due to lack of minerals in the diet or in the food and from difficulty absorbing the minerals from food. Minerals also work together, interacting with each other in synergy or antagonistically, therefore taking just one or two mineral supplements can upset the balance further.

    Why are most of us Mineral Deficient?

    The problem is that our mass produced food does not contain the full spectrum of minerals or the amounts that it used to. At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 there was deep concern over continuing major declines in the mineral values in the soils throughout the World – 85% loss in North America and 72% in Europe! Governments are aware of the long-term health implications but little seems to have been done other than spending huge amounts of money trying to educate the population to “eat their 5 a day” when what we are actually doing is eating more and more food but becoming malnourished. For more information click here-  soil mineral depletion.

    soil mineral depletion

    Imagine what would happen if you bought a beautiful, healthy plant and then re-potted it into a bigger container of old, dried up compost or soil that had been used for years without the addition of any fertiliser – within a short space of time that plant would become discoloured, diseased, deformed and die. Minerals are essential for cellular health.

    How do you know if you are Mineral Deficient?

    Just like the plant, there are many signs and symptoms that show you are. here are just a few;

    • General – fatigue, loss of appetite, poor digestion, loss of taste, cold intolerance, loss of bone density, loss of height, curvature of the spine, anaemia.
    • Skin – pale, yellow or grey discolouration, dry skin, itchy skin, acne, eczema, skin eruptions, boils, urticaria, red spots beneath the skin,slow healing.
    • Eyes – dry eyes, sensitive eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, poor night vision, tic of eyelids, bulging eyes, frequent conjunctivitis.
    • Mouth – re-current mouth ulcers, receding gums, sore tongue, impression of teeth around edge of tongue, cracked lips, periodontal disease.
    • Hair/nails – brittle hair, hair loss, dandruff, early greying, nails opaque, white spots or bands, peeling/laminating nails, longitudinal ridges.

    For more information go to Vitamin and Mineral deficiency.  Many listed symptoms may be caused or aggravated by allergies and problems with digestion. Any inflammation and/or infection in the gut, low stomach acid and food sensitivities can all contribute to poor nutrient uptake.

    What can full spectrum minerals do for you? 

    When given the right minerals in the right form the body can do amazing things to promote health. They can:-

    • produce more energy
    • better brain function
    • improve circulation
    • oxygenate the blood more
    • control inflammation
    • increase poor appetite
    • improve digestive enzymes and digestion
    • increase endurance
    • improve hormones and help regulate the Thymus and Thyroid glands
    • improve the immune system
    • help detoxification, even heavy metal detox
    • improve skin, eyes and hair
    • maintain pH balance helping to defend against cancer
    • improve the action of  vitamin supplements you might already be taking

    What types of mineral supplement are best?

    To be useful in the body they must be organic, plant based micro or trace minerals as opposed to inorganic or metallic source – such as heavy metals that are toxic. For instance there are traces of aluminium, lead, arsenic and mercury in some apples but this is not toxic as once a plant has utilised minerals from the ground, they are digested making them ionic, or electrically charged in nature. This makes it easy for the body to assimilate them and use them at a cellular level. They are not stored or deposited in the body. Unlike aluminium from cooking pots, lead from exhaust fumes, lead from old pipes and mercury from your fillings – these are toxic, stored in the tissues and build up over time causing hormone and health problems.

    There are many confusing terms used concerning minerals so here is a brief explanation:-

    Ionic – usually described as individual elements with an electrical charge in a liquid medium (usually water), easily absorbed as opposed to more complex compounds like Calcium Carbonate – chalk, which is not –  but in fact all minerals are ionic. The important factor for bio-availability is whether they are positively or negatively charged.

    Colloidal – technically this only  applies to particle size, usually minerals in perpetual suspension – not settling out. Just small enough and dilute enough to remain in suspension when kept in the present state. These can be inorganic (from soils and clays) or organic (from plants).

    Fulvic or Fulvic Acid  – Fulvic minerals are obtained by running water over organic material called Humic substances which has not petrified into coal (or become petroleum oil).  The vegetable acids called fulvic acids not only chelate the minerals but also give them a negative charge that makes them bio-available. They are of low molecular weight and easily absorbed and utilised by the body because of the negative charge.

    Chelated – single or multiple minerals bound to specific amino acids. More difficult for the body to break down. Sufficient stomach acid is required to break down the molecules and change the particles to negative charge and because of this they only achieve 20 -40% absorption. When there is low stomach acid this process doesn’t happen.

    So you will see many different terms used when marketing liquid mineral supplements but the important fact is that they need to be plant derived, organic minerals where the plants have converted the positively- charged, non organic minerals into negatively-charged organic minerals through photosynthesis. This makes sense if you think of how we get all our nutrition from living things and not from eating soil and rocks. It is always better to take the full spectrum of minerals as available in nature and not individual minerals.

    Minerals for nutrition can be either individual elements, as in the Periodic Table or combinations. Sea water is a blend of all known mineral elements hence why I always recommend people use Celtic Sea salt that has all the minerals still in it,  as opposed to table salt that only has sodium.

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