Lifestyle

How does 5-HTP work and what is it used for?

June 23, 2021

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that your body naturally produces. Your body uses it to produce serotonin, a chemical messenger that sends signals between your nerve cells. Low serotonin levels are associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, weight gain and other health problems (1, 2). Therefore, increasing your body’s production of serotonin may have…

Benefits of Omega 3

June 14, 2021

Omega 3 contain essential fatty acids DHA & EPA. These important fatty acids are abundant in the brain and help a number of functions in the body. DHA supports normal: 🧠 Brain function During Pregnancy and Early Life Omega-3s are crucial for brain growth and development in infants. DHA accounts for 40% of the polyunsaturated…

The Health Benefits of Elderberry

June 7, 2021

Elderberries are the fruit of the Sambucus tree, they are rich in the antioxidants anthocyanins and flavonoids and have been used for centuries as traditional medicine and to supplement the diet. This wonderful botanical is known to reduce inflammation which could explain why it has a pronounced effect on reducing aches, pain and fever. Elderberry…

5 steps to becoming a morning person

May 25, 2021

After quickly getting yourself and your kids ready for the day, you rush everyone out the door and find yourself exhausted and you wonder if you could ever be a morning person and have a less-stressful morning. Thankfully, even night owls can make mornings a good time of day. But before you set an early…

What is 5HTP?

May 5, 2021

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that your body naturally produces. Your body uses it to produce serotonin, a chemical messenger that sends signals between your nerve cells. Low serotonin levels are associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, weight gain and other health problems. 5-HTP produces serotonin, which can be converted into the hormone melatonin. Melatonin plays an important…

Looking after your bones

April 26, 2021

In addition to calcium and vitamin D, many other vitamins, minerals and nutrients are needed to keep your bones strong and healthy. Bone is constantly in a cycle of being broken down and reformed. This process is known as bone remodeling and requires an adequate supply of certain nutrients. Vitamin D Vitamin D is essential…

Earth Day

April 19, 2021

This week sees Earth Day in it’s 91st year, marking the occasion with a global climate summit led by the Biden Administration. EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with…

What is a Supernutrient?

April 12, 2021

Superfood is a classification used to describe a food that is very high in phytonutrients, and these are ‘Supernutrients’. These foods tend to be extraordinarily high in vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, and they are considered to have disease-fighting properties. What Are Supernutrients / Phytonutrients? Phytonutrients are biologically active compounds that are produced by the…

Mediterranean diet: increase endurance and recover quicker with omega-3s and healthy fats

March 26, 2021

The Mediterranean diet is thought to be one of the most nutritious ways of eating thanks to the fact that it covers all the main food groups and includes loads of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. The Sunshine Diet Think about it: you’ve got a plate stacked with fresh fruit and veg, dashed with olive oil which is full of…

Immune Boosting Foods – let’s get ready for after lockdown

March 19, 2021

Blueberries Blueberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin, which has antioxidant properties that can help boost a person’s immune system. Researchers found that people who ate foods rich in flavonoids were less likely to get an upper respiratory tract infection, or common cold, than those who did not. Dark chocolate Dark chocolate contains an antioxidant…

What are signs of a weakened immune system?

March 12, 2021

Hopefully, we can all start to circulate with each other soon. Lockdown will hopefully come to an end. However, with the end of lockdown comes the risk of us catching “normal” colds as we mix with people and potentially their illnesses. This year, flu levels are at a low partly due to the caution we…

How to cope in the Lockdown

March 5, 2021

Write down things you are grateful for every day It’s no fun when we suddenly lose the ability to do the things we enjoy and see people we appreciate. By writing down things we can do, it’s easier to focus on all the great things we still have. Plus it assists us to remember that…

Tips for sleeping well

February 28, 2021

Sleep helps us to keep feeling well Burning the candle at both ends is something we’re all guilty of from time to time. Making sure we get enough sleep is a necessary part of keeping well. Create a consistent sleep schedule A consistent sleeping pattern can help give your body a routine and tell it…

Lifestyle changes to combat tiredness

February 23, 2021

Feelings of tiredness and fatigue could be down to your lifestyle. Simple changes, such as exercising more and eating better, could help to improve your energy levels and make you feel less tired all the time. Tiredness can negatively affect our everyday lives – but you can fight those feelings of fatigue. Get moving Getting…

Why Sleep is good for us

February 10, 2021

– Source NHS Website Here are 7 ways in which a good night’s sleep can boost your health: Sleep boosts immunity If you seem to catch every cold and flu that’s going around, your bedtime could be to blame. Prolonged lack of sleep can disrupt your immune system, so you’re less able to fend off bugs. Sleep…

Why lack of sleep is bad for your health

– SOURCE NHS WEBSITE Many effects of a lack of sleep, such as feeling grumpy and not working at your best, are well known. But did you know that sleep deprivation can also have profound consequences on your physical health? One in 3 of us suffers from poor sleep, with stress, computers and taking work home often…

What is Serotonin?

January 30, 2021

Serotonin is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. This hormone impacts your entire body. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.

What is Chamomile?

January 21, 2021

Dried chamomile flowers are used to make chamomile tea. Chamomile contains chemicals called flavonoids. These flavonoids are a type of nutrient present in many plants, and they play a significant role in chamomile’s medicinal effects. Chamomile tea has long been used, as a traditional folk remedy, for a wide range of health issues. So far,…

Why is magnesium important during menopause?

January 11, 2021

Sleep Approximately 60% of menopausal women experience sleep disturbances .The perimenopausal highs and lows of progesterone and oestrogen amplify specific symptoms — hot flushes, sleep-disordered breathing, like sleep apnoea, and mood changes, such as anxiety and depression — contributing to sleep issues. Evidence suggests magnesium binds to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric (GABA), helping to settle any nerve activity that may otherwise fragment…

Keeping to a healthy sleep pattern during and after the holidays

January 4, 2021

Top Ten Tips Sleeping well directly affects your mental and physical health. Fall short on sleep and it can take a serious toll on your daytime energy, productivity, emotional balance, and even your weight. Here are some easy to follow tips to help you with sleep. Try to go to sleep and get up at…

Staying Well over Christmas

December 18, 2020

Christmas is a time for over indulging and spending time with loved ones. This often means we spend even less time outdoors than usual. Current Government Recommendations ________________________________________ Public Health England have issued an update on the NHS website, which states: ‘Consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day to keep your bones and…

Did you know they put patients outside in the Spanish Flu 1918?

December 3, 2020

Spanish flu patients were treated outside at Camp Brooks open-air hospital in Boston during the 1918 pandemic and fared better than those not exposed to direct sunlight, meaning vitamin D could have saved lives during the historic outbreak.

Did you know that NHS recommends we take Vitamin D ?

November 18, 2020

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults. It’s important to take vitamin…

Vitamin D Facts

August 3, 2020

Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system for example it plays a role in the working of the innate immune system.

Want to know more about vitamins and what they do?

July 14, 2020

Daily consumption of vitamins and minerals is essential for our general wellbeing. There are 27 essential nutrients, these are vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to function normally.