A four-year study has found that tea slows down brain-cell degeneration, and can help to keep your mind sharp as you age.

Natural compounds in tea called catechins protect brain cells from damaging protein build-up over the years, maintaining your brain's cognitive capability.

In addition, the caffeine in tea, unlike that in coffee, contains the natural amino acid theanine, which offsets the normal side effects of caffeine such as headaches, raised blood pressure and tiredness.

Researchers studied the tea-drinking habits of over 2,500 Chinese aged 55 and older and gave them memory tests.

While two-thirds of the tea-drinkers maintained their memory two years later, 35 percent of non-tea-drinkers had a decline indicating cognitive damage.

If you'd like help in keeping your mind and body young call us now on 01727 764 832

When we experience heartburn and acid reflux after eating,the natural reaction is to assume that our stomach acidity levels are too high, that we have too much acid. However this is not always the case and clients who come to see me with symptoms such as these often improve when we supplement betaine hydrochloride(stomach acid)

This is because it's not so much excess levels of acid that cause reflux and heartburn it's acid in the wrong place. One of the reasons for this can be bloating in the lower abdomen as a result of bacterial fermentation. This can create a pressure in the digestive system which can push the acid upwards. The fermentation in the gut has been able to take place because inadequate levels of acid have created a situation where food hasn't been broken down properly. Thus it's easy to see how a vicious circle can develop.

If you're suffering from indigestion and bloating and would like help in identifying and treating the underlying causes contact us today on 01727 764 832

Recent research from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has shown that fruit juice consumption is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

So why is this? My clients are always surprised when I ask them to restrict their consumption of fruit juice. 'But isn't it healthy?' they always protest.'Surely a drink can't be contributing to my weight gain?'

The problem with fruit juice is that it is a source of concentrated sugars which are released very quickly into the blood stream. Up to 8 pieces of fruit may be used to produce an average glass of orange juice yet how many of us would eat 8 oranges in one go?

When our blood sugar level rises quickly our body reacts to bring the levels back within a healthy range, but if we are constantly eating foods high in fast releasing sugars(both natural and refined)this mechanism starts to break down leading ultimately to the development of diabetes. Eating whole fruits such as apples and oranges has much less effect on our blood sugar levels as the fibre in fruit slows down the digestion and the sugar is absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream.

If you'd like to know more about controlling your blood sugar levels to help with weight loss and to lower your risk of developing diabetes contact us on 01727 764 832

If you've recently been told that your thyroid results are 'normal' then don't be too hasty in dismissing compromised thyroid function as an underlying cause of your excess weight and fatigue. So why is this? Limited funding in the NHS means that thyroid testing is often limited to a look at TSH levels (the hormone produced by the hypothalamus to stimulate the thyroid) and T4 (thyroxine)while the active thyroid hormone is T3 (smething which isn't routinely tested). Many factors can effect the conversion of T4 into T3 in the body and in particular chronic stress can have a big impact. In addition while testing levels of hormones in the blood is a useful guide to thyroid function it's what's happening at a cellular level that is really important and GP tests don't look at this aspect. If you'd like more information on how to assess the true status of your thyroid function then give us a call on 01727 764 832

New research has shown that the microorganism candida albicans is more hardy than was originally thought. It has long been known that candida has a preference for sweet and starchy foods and that reducing these foods from the diet can bring relief from sysmptoms over a period of time.

Recently however, researchers have found that candida can also feed on protein and that it can survive in blood sugar concentrations which would be too low to keep a human alive. So what does this mean? Should we cut out protein and reduce our carbs even lower? Absolutely not! Strong immunity is critical for keeping candida at bay and protein along with a number of other nutrients is important for a strong immune system.

What the research actually demonstrates is that if candida can feed on virtually anything then there is little point in following an overly restrictive diet. If you'd like help in getting rid of your candida then feel free to call us on 01727 764 832