It’s hay fever season and time for a good look at histamine! It’s that time of year again when many of us get hay fever, with its tell-tale symptoms of runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. The time of year when we reach for those antihistamine tablets and nasal sprays. But [...]
Artificial Sweeteners and our Gut Microbiome Can diet drinks affect gut health? Our knowledge about the microbiome has greatly increased over the last 5 – 10 years. Research has highlighted the wide-ranging effects in the body of these organisms which can be either pathogenic “bad” or beneficial. They can help or hinder [...]
When a person experiences an asthma attack, three things are happening at once: The airways grow inflamed, shrinking the space for air to travel; The bronchial muscles tighten, pushing the inflamed walls even closer together; Excess mucus is produced—reducing the available space even more. These asthma symptoms are all coordinated by inflammatory [...]
Brain Health: Viruses and the Brain Brain health - Researchers have known for some time now that neurological (brain) health can be affected by inflammation. Conditions seemingly unrelated, such as depression and Alzheimer’s, share this common contributory factor. Whether coming from the disrupted barrier function of our gut lining (“leaky gut”), suppressed immunity in the [...]
Endometriosis and Nutritional Therapy Endometriosis affects hundreds of women. A recent client of mine thanked me for the background information including explaining possible contributory factors to her condition, so I thought I might share this. Endometriosis is diagnosed when tissue normally found in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) is [...]
What is Functional Medicine? The use of the term “functional” amongst healthcare professionals is becoming very popular – whether it is functional supplements, functional nutrition, functional psychology and of course (perhaps where the term was first used), functional medicine. I am a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine (based in [...]
Probiotics and the teenage brain Researchers have pointed out for some time now that giving teenagers SSRIs (a type of anti-depressant) may at best be ineffective, but more seriously, lead to a worsening of their anxiety or depression and even result in suicidal behaviour. An excellent review in the Canadian Journal [...]
