to do anything? Can I do anything about my health?

Maybe these questions are not related to you, but you will be surprised how many people never care

about this.

Most people start thinking about their health when it’s almost gone. The problem is that we’ve been

brainwashed from our childhood that only thing we can do is treat what ever disease we have. So eat

well (meaning, tasty food), drink (what ever you want), and be merry while you still have your health.

Because after you loose it, all these things won’t be available for you. So many young people are

living by these rules. Thinking I have to seize the moment, before I get sick.

And this attitude, this philosophy is responsible for many diseases and early deaths.

Most people don’t realize that there are preventive methods which won’t be a hindrance for good food or

a happy fulfilling life. In fact, really good, tasty food is usually unprocessed real food, as apposed

to junk food. But preventive issues are not in the food itself, but in what is missing in most food we

consume today.

So, what we can do to prevent many diseases and illnesses, and prolong our life expectancy is beyond

what our parents had? It’s all comes down to our diet. I use this word loosely. By diet I mean

nutrition supplements we all need. We can eat almost anything if our food contains minerals and

vitamins in optimal amounts. But the truth is our food today is deficient in almost all of the required

minerals and vitamins. With today’s methods of growing vegetables and grains and other agriculture

products we are not getting all necessary nutrients we’re supposed to get. And that’s why we have so

many diseases.

Almost all major diseases we have in today’s society could be traced to deficiency of minerals and

vitamins. And if we would only take them daily most of diseases would disappear. And this is not what

your doctor wants you to know. You see, he is benefiting from your sickness. He wants to see you in his

office often. And drug companies, like drug dealers, want you to be hooked on those drugs, because this

is how they get their profits. But you don’t have to be sick, and you don’t have to contribute

to their

wealth.

Just take the necessary nutrients and you’ll have a long, healthy and happy life.

Many people think that good supplements cost a lot of money and don’t consider taking them. But think

about this as a cheap health insurance. It is wise to invest in your health about buck a day, because

if you won’t, you will invest in lives of doctors and drug companies. So, my advice is find good

supplements. Take them religiously every day.

And enjoy a good, healthy, long life with out aches and pains.

Anxiety is no stranger to any of us and in fact everyone needs to feel anxious sometimes, through this natural emotion the body enables a reaction which pumps adrenaline – the hormone stimulant into our systems.

Adrenaline is enormously important for spurring us on to do challenging and uncongenial tasks, helping us to cope with difficult situations.

Today, our lives seem to be ruled by constantly running from one emotional problem to the next, and unfortunately this is considered to be ‘normal’ life.

This is another excellent reason why ‘good food good health’ has to be part of everybody’s everyday regime, helping our immune system tackle the stress and strains put on our bodies.

Normal anxiety has almost always a cause of which we are aware – such as an exam coming up or an important interview etc, and causes different amount of pressure depending on the individual.

Anxiety becomes problematic when apprehension or worry is experienced for no apparent reason or when situations are deemed far worse than warranted.

A great deal of how we deal with anxiety depends on each individual and their outlook on life and character.

Even though anxiety is an emotional state, physical symptoms can be induced by it. Previously, it was believed that these symptoms were ‘all in the mind’, but it has been proven that some people really do feel pain and become ill from the effects.

The most common affect is of course the need to urinate frequently, of which I am sure we have all experienced, this is definitely myself before flying anywhere.

The most reported symptom of enduring anxiety is pain in the back, head, chest and abdomen. Some sufferers become nauseas and actually vomit. Diarrhoea, dizziness and muscular tension are also common problems.

In the worst cases panic attacks can sometimes occur which generally involve sweating profusely, palpitations and abnormally deep breathing.

For some chronic sufferers it is a vicious repeating cycle, as they can become anxious about being anxious, recurrent attacks that can happen over a period of years – this is known as chronic anxiety. In these cases medical attention should be sought.

Insomnia is another well-known side effect, and this again only adds to the anxiety felt by the sufferer by laying mulling over the problem that is causing concern, making the smallest of problem often seem a giant hurdle in life.

The best self-help to allow your body cope and keep good health under duress is to make sure you are eating good food. A diet rich in vegetables, raw fruit, salads and plenty of proteins will give you a good balance and help to keep your immune system on top.

Carrots, and especially carrot juice is believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system. Camomile tea is another favourite.

Many vitamins are said to help, Vitamins B and C are attributed to help in coping with anxiety and stress, functioning of the central nervous system is said to be improved with Vitamin E, and also calcium, magnesium and zinc minerals.

So by eating a varied nutritional diet these vitamins and minerals should be easy accessed for good food good health to be obtained, otherwise dietary supplements can be taken, but always check with your physician.

The other easy self-help method to try and overcome anxiety is breathing exercises. Controlled breathing exercises calm and relax you. If you have read my previous article on Visualisation Therapy, which I use for relaxation, you will see how easy it is to use and how it can have amazing effects on yourself and your outlook on life.

Many people who suffer from anxiety often tend to dwell on fears and problems making them ill, instead of being positive and this really needs to be addressed. Try to adopt a positive attitude and be kind to yourself, although make sure you are not too indulgent.

Chocolate really does have that good feel factor and a little of what you fancy can be helpful, as so can a glass of wine lift your spirits, but using this as a crutch or using too much obviously has its own side effects.

Aromatherapy is another good mood enhancing remedy, as we all know nice smells lift our spirit and essential oils are a good way of achieving this.

A combination of lavender, sandalwood, clary sage and basil help with panic and anxiety, but if you suffer headache with your anxiety or even muscle tension add camomile and marjoram essential oils.

Why not try using these oils in a pot burner while having a relaxing bath to rid yourself of your daily anxieties.

Listening to music is another great method that helps us to relax, why not try listening to some on a personal stereo or MP3 whilst waiting for that appointment or whatever it is that has you feeling anxious.

Music that appeals to us generally lifts our mood, and sometimes by listening to ‘natural sound’ such as water, whales etc can have a beneficial effect.

Uncovering the root of your anxiety is necessary to help alleviate this problem and talking things through with a good friend can really help or in more severe cases a psychiatrist can be of assistance.

I feel that our outward look on life really does help or aggravate our fight with anxiety throughout our lives, and that by eating good food for good health and keeping a positive attitude can only help to fight the symptoms, maintaining a healthy immune system to keep our bodies in tip top condition.

Remember visualisation is positive food for the brain.

Sandra & Ted

The elderflower has been well known through the centuries for its high vitamin C content, anti oxidant and healing properties, and because of this is today one of the top selling natural summer cordials.

Drinking a glass of cordial daily is very refreshing and will help to improve your health, and it is not just the flowers that are good for you but also the berries when made into wine have equal beneficial properties.

We are all well aware now just how important anti oxidants and vitamin C are, and I do not mean only the ladies thinking about their skin and premature aging, but then maybe that is why through the ages women have always made and drank elderflower cordials and tea ritually, and is a staple product of the Women’s Institute along with jams.

Antioxidants are needed to help reduce the production of ‘free radicals’ (highly re-active and unstable molecules which contain atoms with unpaired electrons) in the body, high fat diets attribute to ‘free radicals’, but they are also produced naturally and especially in people who exercise heavily, attacking cells leading to long term damage and a higher risk of cancer.

Studies have shown that taking antioxidants such as vitamin C before eating high fat foods, reduces the damage greatly to the arteries.

The elderflower is well in bloom now and can be found in most hedgerows and roadsides, scrubland and gardens alike, and to many gardeners is a nuisance as it grows almost anywhere in a very short time to a considerable size.

The elder has acquired the nickname of ‘Nature’s Medicine Chest’, as its healing properties have been used for a very wide and varied range of problems from Rheumatism, hay fever, coughs and colds, asthma and influenza.

The elderflower is only in bloom for about six weeks, from the end of May to the beginning of July, but it is best picked now while the flowers are fresh and white and before they turn creamy brown.

I remember making this with my grandma every year, from collecting the flowers and berries to all the smells associated with this. I still have the hand written recipe of this and other by grandma, although I think some of these recipes are probably illegal to make at home now, like the marrow rum, I will have to check up on this at a later date.

The recipe to make 1.5 litres of Elderflower cordial is below, which you dilute to taste, is easy and inexpensive, and is great served with fizzy water and ice. Perfect for the summer.

Ingredients you need – 20 heads of elderflower, 1.8kg granulated sugar, 1.2 litres of water, 2 lemons and 75g citric acid.

Preparation time takes 20 minutes, plus overnight infusing and 5 minutes cooking.Method. Shake the flowers to expel any insects and place in large bowl.Put sugar in pan with water and bring to boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Pare zest off lemons in wide strips and place in bowl with elderflowers. Slice lemons discarding ends and add slices to bowl. Pour over boiling syrup and stir in citric acid. Cover with cloth and leave for 24 hours at room temperature. The next day strain cordial through a muslin (or a new boil washed J cloth or similar) and pour into thoroughly cleaned plastic or glass bottles with screw on lids, and that’s it.

The elder is also used as a natural garden insecticide, by crushing up and bruising the foul smelling leaves you can leave them around young plants to deter aphids and caterpillars. Obviously as they dry out and the smell disappears they need to be replaced.

Farmers used to hang bunches of elderflower above their horses before insecticides were used to rid flies, and dairy farmers used it as they thought it had properties to stop the milk from turning sour. People used to wear a small sprig to keep midges away. The elder has been closely entwined with pagans through the years to summon spirits, with twigs woven into head-dresses to enable the wearer to see spirits and undo evil spells! The mind boggles.

On the Isle of Man, every cottage has an elder growing outside its front door to ward off witches even to this day. In other parts of the country, people would never burn elder wood as it was said a member of the family would die. It was truly a revered plant.

The great thing about elderflower is that it tastes delicious, is highly refreshing and a good provider of vitamin C – an antioxidant, so why not try making your own or buy a good reputable manufactured cordial and start getting the benefits for good health now.

Happy drinking Sandra & Ted

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For many years garlic has been known to have great health benefits and is often thought of as natures own antibiotic’ but people have been wary of eating fresh garlic because of the pungent odour it leaves on your breath, or excreted through the pores. Garlic has this effect because it is a substance that is not metabolised; instead it is absorbed through the stomach lining.

Now it has been realised that taking a good quality supplement of Allicin (the active ingredient of garlic) gives you equal effectiveness, and of course you can use the odourless variety, for this garlic is aged and detoxified leaving it deodorised.

I adore garlic and am happy with garlic on just about any type of savoury food, but being the minority in the family have resorted to taking odourless capsules to keep the peace. I think garlic is one of the few foods that everybody has an opinion about; you either love it or hate it!

In fact my father-in-law Joe used to eat raw cloves every day, probably one of the reasons he is in his eighties and has never suffered from bad health. Joe originates from Poland where garlic had been used for health benefits for years and years, primarily eaten against influenza, but they would also use it topically rubbed on the soles of their feet to ward of colds and many other ailments.

But yes, there was a problem with odour and it came to a head at the maternity centre when I had our eldest daughter, the nurses could not believe how after he visited us the odour lingered, and went on to tell him they were worried it would upset the babies on the ward. Obviously he was a little offended, but more embarrassed, even though we had approached the subject before, thank goodness this time it sank in. Now he still uses garlic, but not every day, and happily takes a daily odourless supplement.

To date garlic has under gone many studies and it seems the list of its benefits keeps on increasing. The main reason I have taken garlic for several years now is because of the effect it has on strengthening the body’s immune system.

With all the stress in today’s society our bodies could do with a little help. The antioxidant properties contained in garlic comes from selenium and germanium that are sulphur-containing antioxidants that boost the immune system.

It is this property that helps rid the body of free radicals that are believed to be associated with the ageing process, growth of tumours and atherosclrosis. Garlic in it’s raw state is thought to be one of the most potent boosters of you body’s natural killer cells. This alone should encourage non-garlic lovers to change their minds.

Research has shown that garlic-Allicin is an excellent natural antimicrobial that can disable a wide variety of infectious organisms. These antibiotic properties can provide extremely active against yeast, fungi and viral infections.

Garlic is great for your heart too, as it contains properties that fight bad’ cholesterol. Nowadays we are all aware that HDL- high-density lipoprotein which is not dangerous, but LDL – low-density lipoprotein definitely is because of the fact that it can be oxidised by dangerous free radicals. Garlic’s antioxidising qualities help diminish the free radical damage.

Garlic is a natural aspirin as it can help prevent red blood cells from clumping together. Garlic naturally keeps the blood thin which is necessary for the prevention of strokes and heart attacks, so people who regularly take garlic benefit from the same aspects as aspirin but without other risks associated with it, but it should not be taken in place of prescribed medication.

Garlic is also beneficial for the cardiovascular system – circulation, and has been proven to improve circulation in the body’s peripheries, which is extremely helpful especially in the aged, when getting enough exercise is often difficult.

Studies are also being undertaken to find the effect garlic has on cancer cells, and to date the findings carried out on mice are looking good. This is really encouraging.

I hope if you are not a lover of garlic this has given a good insight into the benefits of eating garlic or at least taking a supplement. Not only will your health benefit, but you will also have the added benefit of knowing you are safe from vampires!!

Garlic has been written about throughout history. 22 Egyptian remedies using garlic were found on papyrus dating back to the sixteenth century BC. Vikings would not take to long sea voyages without garlic, because of its anti-bacterial properties, this was also the reason it was used against the plague in the 1770′s. African missionaries found that garlic was successful at stopping dysentery.

In fact my granddad grew garlic, and he used to use old cloves steeped in water to cleanse his lean-to come greenhouse, he would fervently swear that it killed mildew and other infections, and apparently having been his grandfather that passed this down to his father, was obviously well thought of for its antibacterial properties.

In our modern hi-tech world we now live in, we have all but forgotten natures own natural problem beaters and these are often absolutely harmless, with no man made chemicals to endanger the environment. Perhaps we should look closer at what our ancestors knew and we seem to have forgotten.

Good food is good health

Sandra & Ted
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]]> http://goodfoodgoodhealthforyou.com/garlic.html/feed 1 http://goodfoodgoodhealthforyou.com/folic-acid.html http://goodfoodgoodhealthforyou.com/folic-acid.html#comments Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:44:04 +0000 Good Food Good Health http://azland55.wordpress.com/?p=29 Hi everyone

Most of us that are of the female sex and mothers are aware that folic acid, or as it is also known – Vitamin B9, Folate, Folacin or Pteroylglutamic acid is important during pregnancy, although it is an essential vitamin for everyone.

Folic acid was named after the Latin word folium meaning leaf, as scientists first isolated it from green leafy vegetables, and in the 1930′s was identified in helping to prevent low blood cell levels – anaemia.

Natural foods that contain folic acid include citrus fruits, strawberries, leafy green vegetables, dried peas, beans and nuts. Also some breads and cereals are enriched with it.

So by eating a varied diet of good food for good health we can all attain a healthy balance of essential vitamins including folic acid.

Folate – being a water-soluble vitamin is needed in your diet every day, as the body cannot store it, and is easily attainable by eating a well balanced diet.

The amount of folic acid recommended varies greatly in different countries but generally 0.2mcg – 200 micrograms for an adult, increasing to 400 mcg for pregnant women or women thinking of having a baby.

Folate acid is destroyed or greatly reduced in overcooked foods, so lightly cooked or steamed vegetables are best. Salad is a good option.

Sources for folic acid- micrograms per 100 grams /3.5 oz

Dark green leafy vegetables 120 – 160 mcg

Other vegetables 40 – 100 mcg

Beans – legumes 50 – 300 mcg

Breakfast cereals 100 – 400 mcg

Whole grains 60 – 120 mcg

A medium orange has 45 mcg,

AÂ large boiled egg 22 mcg,

Large jacket potato 39 mcg,

10 brussels sprouts 115 mcg,

4 spears asparagus boiled
or steamed 88 mcg

2 spears steamed broccoli 61 mcg,

1oz / 25g wheat germ 100 mcg,

7 tablespoons bran flakes 113 mcg,

One of folates most important functions is that it works in conjunction with vitamin B12 and together form healthy red blood cells.

Signs of folate-deficiency anaemia have symptoms very similar to iron deficiency anaemia, and leave you felling fatigued and weak. A lack of folate can also leave you edgy and grumpy.

Scientists agree that folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects – serious birth defects, and say that all women of childbearing age should take it and not just whilst pregnant, as this is often to late to prevent these defects.

Spina bifida and anencephaly are among the most serious defects that folic acid can prevent and reduce the risk by up to 70 per cent.

Anencephaly is a condition resulting from the baby’s brain not developing properly and most or all of the brain tissue is missing, this can often cause stillbirth or death soon after delivery.

Spina bifida occurs when the spinal column of the fetus does not close, this should happen during the first few weeks of pregnancy to protect the spinal cord, resulting in neurological problems and or other deformities.

Studies carried out in the 1960′s and 1970′s between folic acid and cancer connections found that cells from the cervix in women with folate deficiency looked similar to cervix cells showing early signs of cancer, and so suspected a link.

Later by the 1990′s studies found that people were more likely to develop certain cancers when lower blood levels of folic acid were present, such as colorectal and cervical.

It is not exactly clear how folic acid might affect cancer, but it is needed to help cells make and repair DNA when they divide creating new cells, also it is thought to be involved in how cells are able to tune certain genes on and off.

Scientists think that low levels can amount to changes in chemicals that affect DNA, maybe altering how well cells

can repair or divide without making mistakes, which might lead to cancer.

There is promising evidence but not conclusive that folic acid can help prevent cancer, and that it may also depend on when it is taken.

Some researchers are concerned that this may be harmful in people that have pre-cancerous conditions or who already have cancer.

Recently folic acid is also thought to help stave off dementia in the elderly as doctors found those with low levels of folate in the blood face triple the risk of Alzheimer’s developing. People who had high levels were found to have the least risk of mental deterioration.

Higher blood folate levels also suggests it may well ward off strokes and heart disease, and has been shown to reduce levels of an amino acid – homocysteine, as high levels of this has been linked with Alzheimer’s.

So for the elderly it is important that they eat a diet that is folate rich or take supplements. The safe upper level of folic acid is 1,000 micrograms.

A well-balanced varied diet of good food good health is essential for all of us and improves our immune system, which affects our well being, at any age and all stages of our lives.

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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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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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Currently we have 60 great titles ranging from; Diet and Nutrition, Exercise, to beauty & Grooming. This site has some of the best ebooks on health and recreation available to download directly onto your MP3 or Ipod players.  Click here to learn more

Sandra Ted

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As you probably know from reading previous articles I have written that I suffer from COPD, and through this I frequently have to take antibiotics to make sure that no further damage is done to my lungs when I contract colds and chest infections.

I am absolutely against taking antibiotics regularly, but my GP says that this is the lesser of the two evils.

Taking antibiotics kills some of the good bacteria in the gut along with whatever reason you are taking the medication for. So taking prebiotics helps to speed up my body’s natural process of producing bacterium and immunity to fight against other viruses.

Did you know that 70 per cent of our immune system is found in our gut, and that our gut is home to over 400 different strains of bacteria.

The bacteria in the gut, which colonises soon after birth from ingested milk, helps to prevent dangerous bacteria such as e.coli from entering and colonising the body.

The guts ‘eco-system’ of bacteria is a very delicate balance, and can easily be tipped into turmoil by bugs causing diarrhoea and sickness from contaminated or raw foods.

Of course eating a varied diet of good food gives us good health and keeps our immune systems in check, but by adding a probiotic drink or yoghurt can greatly increase the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

As a family we have been taking probiotics for the past couple of years, topping up on the friendly bacteria, and we are all agreed that they have had a good effect on our health and scientists now agree that they do in fact work and help.

I love yoghurt so much that one whole shelf in the refrigerator is always full of them, although for the rest of the family it always used to be ‘children, eat your yoghurt to keep your mum happy’!

I started buying probiotic drinks to begin with, which were not received well at all, but as soon as the yoghurt version was available they became a hit, now as soon as I put them I the fridge they are gone!

There are many products available and these can have different names or jargon on them, either Probiotics, prebiotics, bifidobacillus, lactobacillus and omega 3 & 6:-

Probiotics, the most common, living bacteria that top up the normal bacterial found in the gut.

Prebiotics – soluble food that fuels the bacteria in the gut.

Bifidobacillus bacteria thrive in an oxygen-depleted environment.

Lactobacillus bacteria found naturally in milk, is reproduced in the lab from cultured natural sources.

Omega 3 & 6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids vital for growth and cell development and found naturally in foods such as oily fish and kiwi fruit.

By using a probiotic can only help to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in the gut, some products have more than one of the above, so it is always advisable to check the label.

People with an unhealthy gut often suffer from symptoms of pain, bloating, trapped wind or gastric problems, could benefit and alleviate some of the problems by using probiotics.

The friendly bacteria in the yoghurts and drinks work by competing for space with harmful bacteria – the good bugs swamping the bad, stimulating the immune system, sending white blood cells and immunoglobin or antibodies to any area needed to prevent harmful bacteria entering the bloodstream.

A new study published this week confirmed that the benefits of friendly probiotics have a clear effect on the body.

Not only do they significantly change the make-up of gut bacteria that is involved in immune health, but also improve the break down of fat, fibre and protein and the metabolism of vitamins.

Probiotic bacteria also helps to stop the gut absorbing fat, instead being passed out through the body naturally rather than storing it.

These bacteria could be very beneficial for the elderly and also undernourished people, in these instances it is being found to help ward off colds and sore throats.

Research is being carried out to find out whether they are effective in helping protect children against allergies and also with ulcers in the colon – ulcerative colitis.

There is new evidence that a probiotic could be the key in combating the super bug C.difficile. Sufferers of C. diff normally have a recurrence after about 6 weeks as the bacteria re-grows, but bifidobacillus has shown to inhibit this action, so that relapse is unlikely in the patient, so research is ongoing with this.

There are two groups that should definately avoid the use of probiotics – newborn, where bacteria has not been fully colonised naturally, and others whose immune system has been improvised through chemotherapy or blood poisoning. You can always check with your local health advisor to make sure there are no problems taking them.

Using probiotics is no substitute for eating a healthy diet and is not a quick fix, as always ‘good food good health’ should be your regime- make it a way of life and by adding a friendly bacteria can only help your body in its tireless task of keeping us at peak condition.

Sandra & Ted
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