Good Food Good Health – cod liver oil

Hi Everyone

We all know cod liver oil is great for the heart but did you know that it has properties that can combat depression also.

I am a great believer in cod liver oil and take supplements of it daily along with the rest of the family. The benefits of taking omega -3 fatty acids, which are a major constituent of cod liver oil, are tremendous and greatly enhance good health.

Now researchers have another claim that it staves off depression and helps to alleviate the symptoms of depression, these new tests carried out have suggested.

The good old Scientists say that by taking a spoonful of cod liver oil or its equivalent a day, cuts the risk by 30 per cent. This is just the latest evidence of the good health benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Researchers carried out tests and examined the health and dietary habits of 22,000 people, aged 40 and over, and guess what they found? The results showed that those who never or rarely consumed cod liver oil had much higher rates of stress, depression and anxiety.

And yes the nine per cent of people who took a spoonful of cod liver oil daily were 30 per cent less likely to be struck down by the blues. The scientists from Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen wrote in the Journal of Affective Disorders that ‘Daily users were less likely to suffer high levels of depression’, relating this to the probable protective effect of omega-3, reassuring this is a good food for your good health.

Did you know that around one fifth of the population at some point of their lives will suffer from depression. In England alone last year, 31 million anti-depressant pills were prescribed, a new record level!

Depression can strike at any age, rendering the sufferer incapable of carrying out many normal daily activities and very difficult to hold down a steady job.

Omega-3s are said to reduce the risk of heart attack and protect against cancer. Recently in the media, it was announced that hospitals were going to give all patients with heart attack and other cardiac problems cod liver oil supplements.

Schools over the last few years have also shown great interest in omega-3, as it is said that it boosts a child’s brain, so much so that some were said to be giving it to pupils daily. Tests were carried out showing that after a child had taken cod liver oil daily over a period of six to eight weeks, their concentration increased and there were less behavioural problems in the class.

As a family we love fish and eat it regularly, but even so, to get the full benefit of the protective effect, you need to eat oily fish for four main meals a week, and so for this reason we take capsules. Today there is no excuse for not taking cod liver oil, as generally the capsules are odourless and do not repeat, very different to my first introduction to it.

Mum used to give it me on a spoon daily and I dreaded it. I was always sure my friends at school could smell it, and this caused more arguments at home than any thing else. But now I really appreciate mum for her perseverance, especially as experts are still finding more and more benefits of regular consumption of cod liver oil.

Oily fish such as mackerel, trout and salmon are not the only source of omega-3, Walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil are naturally good sources too.

Of course you can also get your daily requirements from foods that are produced now that are enriched with the nutrient, this includes some types of milk, eggs and margarine spreads. Many yoghurts and yoghurt type drinks are manufactured with omega-3.

For optimum health the daily amount experts recommend we consume is 0.5mg of omega-3.

The oil is extracted from the liver by steaming and then pressing, and is rich in vitamins A and D.

Over the years cod liver oil was given to wartime children because of the lack of good food, the high vitamin content improved their physical good health, it

was also distributed free to pregnant women and nursing mothers.

So do not forget good food is good health

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Good Food Good Health- Childrens Colds

Hi everybody

Well at this time of year we are lucky if we are not suffering from the symptoms of coughs or colds, keeping them at bay is not easy especially when you have to travel in close proximity to others on busses and trains.

Keeping the immune system strong by eating a well-balanced varied diet-’good food good health’ gives our bodies the best chance at fighting viruses and infections.

Also keeping body fluid levels up is as always very important, and often gets overlooked during the winter month’s when people often drink less, so make sure a drink is always at hand.

Children can go from one cold to another as nurseries and schools are often a haven for illness, in what seems a continuous period of illness and is very distressing for parents.

The most common illness is the common cold, which features – sore throat, runny nose, earache and a chesty cough, and generally lasts seven to ten days.

Sometimes fever is a feature too, which many parents find very worrying, generally only temperatures of 39C and above cause concern to health professionals, but nobody knows your child like you, and I believe we have a great instinct on these things and if in doubt should always consult medical advice.

Most of these symptoms can be alleviated with regular treatment of paracetamol or ibuprofen syrup that your pharmacist can assist you with.

Honey is excellent for coughs and sore throats, but is not recommended for children under the age of one.

Honey being natural and full of anti-oxidants and antimicrobial agents, tastes great and is relatively cheap compared to many cough syrups. Research has shown that honey has proven to be better in alleviating symptoms of colds and infections than over the counter products.

Mix honey with other ingredients such as ginger and lemon, just as my Nan used to many years ago, quick and easy and has a good shelf life.

Decongesting the nose often helps relieve stuffiness and earache. There are several nasal sprays on the market for adults that help, but for children are not advised, and I really think if I had tried to administer these to my children when they were young, would have been quite a fight and stressed myself and them more. Some cough medicines come as an all-in-one and include a decongestant.

Olbas oil and Karvol are recommended for children, and if you can create a steam as in the bathroom after a shower by adding to hot water works well.

Two variants of the common cold that are very distressing to the child and parent alike are croup and bronchitis.

Young children aged one and upwards often suffer from a cold called ‘croup’ that affects the upper airways and voice box. This produces a distinctive cough sounding a bit like a gruff dog or sea lion barking. This cough comes in spasms and can last for a few minutes, and is generally worse at night.

Using steam can help break up the cough.

Bronchitis affects children under the age of one. It causes runny noses and a very chesty cough that often leaves the baby or child with breathing and feeding problems. It can be a virus called RSV -Respiratory Syncitial Virus.

Bronchitis can be serious especially in the very young and requires medical help. Those in most need show a very fast rate of breathing, look out for the spaces between the ribs being sucked inward and the windpipe appearing to be moved up and down the neck.

Earache is always nasty, and is often due to a catarrh build up in the nasal passages, blocking and pulling the eardrum inward and can be relieved by use of decongestants and pain relief.

Ear infections are rarely given anti-biotics nowadays, as many GP’s say that recent research has shown that they make little difference to the length of illness, and often have side effects such as diarrhoea and sickness.

Make children’s meal times fun, try introducing new foods often into their diets to keep a healthy well balanced diet, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, but while they are feeling poorly chicken soup is by far the best, it is easy to consume and very nourishing.

Chicken soup is a great way to build a child up as it has several ingredients that affect the immune system, and specifically anti-inflammatory properties that ease the discomfort of colds and flu and soothes sore throats.

Home made is the best but tinned varieties still have excellent medicinal properties.

Ice cream and ice lollies are also a good way of soothing a sore throat and help to keep the fluid level up, which is extremely important in times of illness, as children often go of their food when they are ‘bunged up’.

Our children are important to us, so it is only fair to give them good food for good health.

Sandra & Ted

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Sandra Ted

http://www.goodfoodgoodhealth.com

http://www.thetalkingbooksite.com

http://www.quantum-mind-power.com