How Heavy is Your Stress Load?

Stressors burden the body by wreaking havoc on our systems sending into a dysfunctional spiral. The collective pollutants in our food, air and water supply, synthetic chemicals and plastics in our personal and homecare products, clothing and furniture, electromagnetic and radio frequencies, radiation from air travel and microwave use, information overload, mental or emotional pressures, excess stimulants, sedentary lifestyles and late nights disrupt body functions.

Blood pH is altered, digestive, immune and reproductive functions are negatively impaired, immune system becomes suppressed and the neuroendrocrine system's normal activity stimulates the nervous, musculoskeletal and circulatory activity to go into high alert, preparing the body for the "fight, flight or freeze" alarm phase. Following a stress response organ systems will usually return to normal.

However, pay close attention to the common indicators associated with prolonged sympathetic nervous system (SNS) dominance. Symptoms can range from poor focus and memory recall, appetite loss or increase, skin issues, hair loss, sweating, insomnia, depression, mood changes, anxiety, tension headaches, muscle and joint aches, panic attacks, hypertension, high cholesterol, mouth ulcers, constipation or diarrhoea, vulnerability to infections, slow wound healing, to PMS and low libido.

Left untreated, chronic activation of the HPA system, is linked to a whole catalogue of conditions from thyroid issues, CFS/ME, autoimmune conditions, SLE and balding, stomach and duodenal ulcers, G.I.T. upsets, menstrual problems, infertility and impotence, to leading causes of death including heart disease, cancer, lung diseases, cirrhosis and suicide.

Learn ways to identify and manage reactions to stress, calm the nervous system and nourish the adrenals, and by doing so you will help lower your risk of adrenal fatigue, improve focus and memory, stabilize mood, blood sugar levels and heart beat. Most importantly, by limiting stress in your life you reduce the risk of developing any of the many degenerative health issues now medically proven to be associated with stress.

Do You Have the Strongest Lines of Defence?

Inflammation, oxidative stress and ageing are caused by free radical damage, increased when pathogens and toxins invade the body or when exposed to toxic agents not conducive to healthy functioning of the cells. To reduce this damage it's crucial to maintain the strength of the internal and external defence forces. 

White blood cells are located throughout the lymphatic system, with approximately 80% of the immune system lining the gastrointestinal tract to protect the mucosal surface from micro-organisms (unhealthy bacteria, parasites, and yeast overgrowth), low quality food and drink, excess sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and drugs such as anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

Creating a powerful internal army using specific antioxidant rich nutrients and lifestyle adjustments, whilst maintaining the integrity of the various structural mucosal barriers, are great tools to reduce the risk of hypersensitivity and autoimmune conditions from developing.

Are you one of the growing numbers of Allergy and Asthma sufferers in the UK?

According to Allergy UK an estimated 15 million people suffer from allergies, 9 million people suffer from hayfever and over 1 million develop a food allergy.

Asthma UK estimates that 5.4 million people are currently receiving medical treatment for Asthma. Of this number 1.1 million are children, averaging 2 children per classroom. Of concern, the UK has "one of the highest prevalence of asthma symptoms for children worldwide". Asthma is considered the most chronic medical condition. On average a child is admitted to hospital every 18 minutes and 3 people die from this condition daily.

The experts suggest that the combination of foreign modern substances, like agrochemicals used on crops, air and chemical pollutants and drugs now entering the body may be significant factors for the increasing rise of environmental allergies. Mould growth flourishes in hotter and wetter temperatures. Ragweed pollen is increased with longer growing seasons. With scientists predicting that the pollen count will double by the year 2040 this is a concern for those people with compromised immune systems.

Developing an allergy or asthma can broadly affect quality of life where the ability to study or work, or engage in sport can be drastically diminished due to functional limitations. Rather than ignoring or suppressing these symptoms, it’s important to identify and remove the contributing causes. Limit suffering and steroid dependency, with their possible long term adverse side effects, by discovering how nutrition and lifestyle modifications can help counteract the harmful impact generated by these residues from weakening the health of the body.

Want radiant skin and improved hair health?

If prone to hair that's wiry, dry, oily, thinning or prematurely greying, nails so weak they split or have ridges, or inflamed skin manifesting conditions like rashes, tags, acne, eczema, psoriasis or liver spots, then you can be sure that your internal organ systems are screaming out for attention.

Since the dawn of time people have been unconsciously judged by their by their appearance. For thousands of years, TCM and Ayurvedic practitioners have supported case taking by observing the quality of a person's skin, the thickness, texture and lustre of their hair, the condition of their tongue and the strength of their nails.

Having a clear, glowing complexion, thick, shiny hair and strong, smooth nails is achievable, when the right kind of proteins, fats, micronutrients and hydration levels are incorporated into the diet, when your hormones are balanced and when oxidative stress is kept to a minimum.

We can work to investigate the causes of poor integumentary health and how best we can restore vitality to these external areas.

How's Your Gut Health?

When digestion, absorption, utilisation, barrier integrity, elimination and microbiome health are compromised, a number of consequences can be experienced, such as low energy levels, poor concentration, poor memory, intolerances, allergies, bad breath, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, reflux, burping, or conditions like IBS, ulcers and Celiac Disease.

The gut is referred to as the body's “second brain”, because of its intelligent co-dependent network housing nutrients, gut flora, immune cells, hormones and neurotransmitters. It is where up to 95% of the 'happiness' hormone, serotonin, is produced. Together this orchestra plays essential independent and codependent roles in the functioning of key physiological processes; helping to regulate appetite, mood, behaviour, memory, learning, body temperature, cardiovascular function and muscle activity.

Maintaining gut function health is critical to overall wellbeing.

Are You Under or Over Fed?

When dieting is taken to an extreme or when excess, energy-dense, empty calories are consumed, these harmful eating decisions result in short and long term implications. Dietary extremes trigger constant stress signals and chemical imbalances within the body resulting in damage to each organ systems as the body becomes malnourished.

Obesity is a preventable global epidemic with numbers rapidly rising. The UK Government states "In England, most people are overweight or obese. This includes 61.3% of adults and 30% of children aged between 2 and 15". Complications associated with obesity costs the NHS £5 billion per annum. An obese child is placed at a higher risk of developing disabilities in adulthood and suffering from premature death. Obesity is linked to many pathologies with the more severe including but not limited to insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, gout, gynaecological abnormalities, pulmonary disease, gallbladder disease, fatty liver, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis and certain cancers.

Greater attention needs to be placed on the quality of nutrients consumed and decreasing high intake of calories disproportionate to energy demands, ingesting poor quality fats and oils, protein, dairy, plus refined carbohydrates and processed foods.

Our unique biochemistry means that we each need to understand what nutrients our individual bodies require to function efficiently. We also benefit from factoring in requirements to meet seasonal changes, geography, climate, life stage and physical demands, such as additional support during pregnancy, lactation, injury or athletic activity.

Let us help you to establish a healthy relationship with food, to discuss the best nutrients to support your make-up and lifestyle requirements, help you to find ways to fall within the ideal body mass index parameters, and return your lipid ratios and inflammatory markers to normal.

What's the matter?

Energy dips? Fatigue? Insomnia? Mood swings? Unexplained weight gain or loss? Menstrual complications? Precocious puberty? Excessive thirst? Diabetes Type II?

These are just a few of the many side affects associated with an imbalance in the endocrine system, the body's chemical messenger system responsible for secreting hormones to guide cells to their target site. Without hormones we wouldn't be able to function for they help regulate metabolism, appetite, thirst, fluid balance, blood circulation, energy, mood, tissue function, learning, wakefulness, development, growth, reproduction, regeneration and sleep.

Hormone levels and activity can be affected by a number of causes.

- Having a dominant sympathetic nervous system can cause a cascade of events that disrupt hormone production and function.

- Not having optimal nutritional building material and not having adequate restful sleep for the synthesis of these hormones can greatly impact body functioning. 

- And let's not forget all the chemicals and toxins being absorbed via the skin, digestive and respiratory system on a daily basis, especially plastic based synthetic products. These xeno-oetrogens stimulate conditions like oestrogen dominance, an associated factor for early onset of puberty, infertility and certain types of cancers.

Returning the hormones to a state of homeostasis is crucial for optimal body functioning. 

Why Detoxing should be a part of our daily routine.

Brain fog, fatigue, irritated mood and skin, allergies, bloating, low grade infections, puffiness or dark circles under the eyes, depression, sugar or salt cravings, low blood pressure, poor fat metabolism, nausea, inability to shift weight or menstrual issues, are some examples of alarm bells ringing loudly that it's time to detox.

Major benefits can be achieved through a naturopathically guided detox programme where the body becomes cleansed through supporting the major eliminatory drainage pathways, along with cleansing the mind and emotions of conditioning and negative thought patterns. When the mental and emotional bodies are in a state of balance physical healing can occur. 

There are many vehicles that can be used to detoxify the body, be it through lymphatic drainage, liver and colon support, cleansing the gallbladder and kidney, alkalising the blood, hydrotherapy, skin brushing, breathing techniques, far infrared sauna, or employing a heavy metal detox to bind the excess metals in the body for removal. 

What's important is to find a way that works best for you to effectively reduce and remove the toxic load on your body through purifying and regenerative programmes.

Restoring the blood chemistry to a state of balance allows optimal cellular function and ultimately this results in a much healthier you.

What Makes Your Heart Skip a Beat?

More people die from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) than from any other illness. The World Health Organisation estimates that by the year 2030, globally, "23.3 million will die annually from CVDs".

From a medical perspective it is well documented that high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes are preventable when cardio supportive measures are followed. Improving nutritional and hydration intake, limiting alcohol, refined sugars and unhealthy oils, reducing lipid and blood pressure levels, incorporating daily exercise, avoiding tobacco use, managing stress levels and incorporated more of what you enjoy into your life.

The heart has greater significance than merely acting as an involuntary pumping device - it needs to be fed a constant stream of love, joy and fulfilment.

Committing to a heart health plan and enhancing your happiness is an invaluable way to improve life expectancy and increase life satisfaction.

Are you well prepared?

Unassisted conception is increasingly becoming easier said than done.

Special attention is focussed on restoring nutritional deficiencies, regulation of the menses and nourishing the womb to provide an oxygenated rich blood supply when required which involves moving the body.

Testosterone levels have drastically plummeted during the last 5 decades that has had a net effect on virility and fertility. Sperm health, the quantity, quality, motility, stamina and increasing the probability of the union itself, are examined and supported.

Reducing stress levels, balancing the hormones, boosting nutrient supplies, eliminating toxic burdens and introducing appropriate fitness programmes are starting points to preconception healthcare.

Prenatal health can impact a person's life outside the womb physically, emotionally and developmentally for years to follow.