HEALTH NEWS

by Lynne Gully

               January 2007

Happy New Year

I hope you had an excellent Christmas break and I wish you good health and lots of happiness in 2007.

A new year is always a time of new beginnings. We all make new year resolutions to lose weight, give up smoking, start exercising more etc. There are so many adverts on television promoting ways to diet or to give up smoking. The celebrities are out in force selling their brand new exercise DVD “guaranteed” to shift the pounds. So why is it that every year we are bombarded with different ways to lose weight and get fit and yet by March or April most people have given up. The gym membership taken out in good faith in January is no longer being used and it just seems an impossible task to lose the extra pounds. The secret is to take it one day at a time. Don’t set yourself an impossible task that you will find daunting, and don’t go on starvation diets.

Have you heard of the ELMM diet? It’s very simple to follow and it works. You just Eat Less and Move More. One important factor in this diet is that you eat lots of fresh vegetables and stay away from processed food like cakes, biscuits, crisps, or too many ready-made meals that are usually high in salt, sugar or fat. If you eat a healthy diet in sensible amounts, your weight will reduce gradually, you will have more energy and feel so much better.

Giving Up Smoking?

This is one of the hardest addictions to give up. You feel depressed and suffer with mood swings, but there are nutrients that will help you through this difficult time:

Gotu kola has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years in India and is said to help control the imbalance in your body's chemical make-up that occurs when you have an addiction. Gotu kola could also dull your sugar cravings, which go through the roof when you stop smoking. N.B. Gotu kola does NOT contain caffeine. Stock No: 360.

St. John's Wort helps alleviate depression and mood swings. This is an area that so many people overlook when trying to quit smoking. Think about it. One of the worst things about giving up smoking is how ‘down’ it makes you feel. Stock No: 655.

These two substances should help you battle the anxiety and mood swings that you're bound to suffer when you try to kick the habit.

The SAD Problem

The nights draw in, the temperature drops, the mornings are dark and you just want to stay in bed - that's normal for January as the reduction in natural light causes your body to go into hibernation mode. Some people feel like this to extreme levels and if you feel constantly tired, unmotivated, anxious, depressed and unable to go out, you could have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. The problem affects around 500,000 people a year in the UK.

So what can you do?

• Get as much light into your home as possible and get outside in natural light whenever you can.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin B6 since low levels can lead to depression. Cabbage, bananas and fish are good sources. Take a vitamin B-Complex. Nervous or depressed individuals and those working under stress or tension may benefit significantly from higher-than-normal doses of B-complex vitamins. Stock No: 1773.

·         You should also get some folic acid in your system. Researchers have found that clinically depressed patients just don't have enough. Eat more citrus fruit, spinach and wholegrain foods and take a folic acid supplement. Stock No: 1585.

·         Nuts contain selenium, which has been found to boost your mood by researchers at University College in Swansea. The best source is the Brazil nut.

·         Eat chilli peppers. They contain capsaicin, which helps your brain produce endorphins - the natural mood-enhancing chemicals in your body.

If you want copies of any previous newsletters you can visit my website at www.optimumhealth.co.uk

Contact Lynne at lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk or Tel: 0030 28920 42356

LUNG HEALTH

There are so many adverts on television promoting various types of air fresheners with names like ‘summer breeze’ or ‘mountain glade’. Many of these air fresheners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have been linked to reduced lung function, heart disease and lung cancer and could present dangers for patients with asthma and other lung conditions.

Deterioration of lung function is a fact of life, or rather a fact of ageing. There are two things you can do to help protect your lungs from decline:

1.       Make sure you are getting ample amounts of nutrients that support lung health.

2.       Avoid inhaling VOCs, which are contained in air fresheners, toilet bowl deodorants and mothballs.

One way to freshen the air in a room is to open the windows to add fresh, clean air. Spraying chemicals into the air is not really a very good idea. I always use essential oils like lavender or lemon to create a pleasant fragrance in a room.

Nutrients to Support Lung Health

Vitamin C

Researchers have found that people who consume higher amounts of vitamin C have better lung function than those with low vitamin C intake. Higher intakes of vitamin C and magnesium are associated with improved lung function among asthma patients.

Vitamin C Chewable 250mg. Stock No: 1726

Vitamin C 1000mg Timed Release. Stock No: 1635

Vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids. Stock No: 1646

Magnesium. Stock No: 1786

Beta-Carotene

Researchers have found that beta-carotene protects lung function in the general population. Beta-carotene is a powerful scavenger of toxic oxygen free radicals, particularly those generated by chemicals in the air and by the body’s metabolism. The best dietary sources of beta-carotene include broccoli, carrots, kale, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, sweet red peppers, and winter squash. Apricots, peaches, oranges and tomatoes are also good sources. Studies show a diet containing mixed sources of carotenes provides more antioxidant protection than beta-carotene alone.

Nature’s Sunshine’s Carotenoid Blend contains beta-carotene with mixed carotenes and is derived from carrot oil, marigolds, and tomatoes. Stock No: 4073

Astragalus & Aster Combination contains Chinese herbs that support lung health. The herbs improve circulation, dilate the bronchioles for easier breathing and relax muscle spasms to suppress coughing. This product is often recommended for asthma, chronic bronchitis, chest constriction/pain, chronic coughs, fever, respiratory congestion/infection, sore throats and wheezing. Stock No: 1887

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS

Bronchitis is an inflammation or obstruction in the bronchial tubes. This inflammation results in a build-up of mucus, along with coughing, fever, pain in the chest and/or back, fatigue, sore throat, difficulty breathing and often sudden chills and shaking. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection, which can be bacterial or viral. It typically follows an upper respiratory tract infection such as a cold or influenza. Chronic bronchitis results from frequent irritation of the lungs, such as from exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, or other noxious fumes, rather than from infection. Allergies may also be the cause of chronic bronchitis.

Suggested Nutrients

Colloidal Silver – a natural antibiotic that destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi. Stock No: 4074

Vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids enhances immune function and reduces histamine levels. Take 3000mg daily in divided doses. Stock No: 1646

Herbs

Herbal medicine has proven to be very effective in the treatment of bronchitis.

Fenugreek & Fennel Combination – a herbal combination of boneset, fennel, fenugreek, horseradish and mullein that relieves sinus and upper respiratory congestion associated with allergies. The herbs stimulate the production of mucosal fluids to remove allergens and other toxins. Recommended for allergies, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, hay fever, nasal drainage, respiratory tract infection, sinus congestion, and swollen glands.

Capsules - Stock No: 775

Liquid extract – Stock No: 3166

Echinacea/Golden Seal Liquid – helps to fight viruses and bacteria. Goldenseal has antibiotic properties and is good for all conditions involving inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes, throat, nasal passages, and sinuses. Stock No: 3180

Astragalus & Aster Combination – see opposite for details.

Diet Recommendations

Include garlic and onions in your diet as these foods contain an enzyme that aids in releasing an inflammatory chemical in the body. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic.

Drink plenty of fluids. Pure water, herbal teas and soups are all good choices.

Avoid mucus-forming foods such as dairy products, processed foods, sugar, sweet fruits and white flour. Avoid gas-producing foods such as beans, cabbage, cauliflower etc. A vegetarian diet is best.

Avoid second-hand smoke.

Add moisture to the air with a humidifier, vaporizer or even a pan of water on the radiator.

Rest in bed in the early stages, when fever is present. Apply warm, moist heat or a hot water bottle over the chest and back before bedtime to aid in sleeping and reduce inflammation. It is good to rub eucalyptus oil on your chest first.

Do not use a cough suppressant if you have bronchitis since coughing is essential for eliminating mucous secretions.

To order any of these products call 08458 40 50 60