The case against cow’s dairy and whether it plays an ‘essential role in our health’, is an age old argument, causing plenty of controversy and a divide amongst health professionals. To help dispel much of the confusion surrounding cow’s dairy and the role it plays in our diet, I’ve broken down the science for you so you can be clear about the facts on this supposed ‘essential food’ and whether we really need to consume cow’s dairy for strong, healthy bones. We’re taught from a young age that cow’s dairy will help our bones and teeth to grow strong and when we’re in
Thyroid health is something I deal with everyday, not just professionally as a Clinical Nutritionist, but because I too have a thyroid condition that I work hard to keep in check. Thyroid conditions are something I have seen increase at an alarming rate over the past 17 years in clinical practice, and it greatly concerns me to see how devastating the effects can be on sufferers day to day function and overall life – including their relationships. But perhaps even more concerning is the number of people who go undiagnosed, or are misdiagnosed by the medical profession. Those that may
If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is with this latest health ‘fad’ of drinking bone broth, you might be surprised to hear this culinary tradition dates back centuries ago. But as with so many food traditions, the slow food movement was lost with the birth of processed foods. The consumption of processed foods has been largely responsible for the demise in our health, as we’ve traded convenience for disease! But most of us wouldn’t view eating packaged foods this way, choosing to believe the false claims made by so many manufacturers. In my view, the beauty industry is just as guilty as the manufacturers
Do you know that moody friend, or family member that can be beaming rays of sunshine one minute, then oozing black moods and taking a swipe at you the next? Perhaps this is something you’re struggling with yourself, but your doctor has written you off as suffering depression or anxiety and simply prescribed an antidepressant. Well before you write off your friend or family member, or even yourself as just being ‘moody’ or depressed, you may want to consider that there maybe something biochemical at play, and no I’m not talking about a split personality disorder! I’m talking about an easily diagnosable
Hands up if you’ve ever been on a diet and failed? Hands up if you’ve ever been on a diet that has lead to you putting on more weight than before you started? I bet the answer to at least one of these questions is ‘Yes’ and the simple explanation is because diets honestly don’t work, well at least not in the long term for the majority of people. You see as humans, we’re designed to be pleasure seekers and food is one of the simplest and most satisfying pleasures we can enjoy, so by depriving yourself of food and
How many of you have passed by this prickly looking bud in the fresh food section of your supermarket – having no idea what it is, – let alone what on earth you would do with it in your kitchen? Well, what if I told you that globe artichokes are a nutritional power-house and super quick and easy to prepare as a delicious snack or appetiser? Globe artichokes are actually a member of the thistle family and just one serving contains more anti-oxidants than dark chocolate, blueberries or red wine! The antioxidants contained in fresh artichokes provide a range of health benefits, ranging from cancer
Whenever I write a post related to anxiety or depression, or about how food affects your mood, there always seems to be a greater response from readers in comparison to other topics I write about. I can only put this phenomenon down to the fact that more and more people are suffering from these conditions and searching for answers. I first witnessed this growing epidemic through my clinical practice, when more than half of my patients reported anxiety and depression as being one of the major issues impacting their health and day-to-day life. I’ve also been in relationships with sufferers of chronic anxiety and depression,
When I was in my early twenties, I thought I was on top of life, training for a marathon and forging what I believed was going to be a successful career in advertising, until one day life had a different plan in store. It decided I needed to spend the best part of four years in bed – sleeping up to 21 hrs a day, too exhausted to move and wracked with pain – to the point I had to crawl upstairs on my backside because my legs were so weak. What began as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, later progressed to SLE –
It’s around this stage of the program many of you ask me about ‘how’ or ‘if’ you should be exercising and the simple answer is, it’s different for everyone, although everyone should at least be moving each day, because a sedentary lifestyle has been scientifically proven to be more dangerous than smoking! But before I go into more detail about my thoughts on exercise, I’ll start by telling you my secret tip for getting the most out of your exercise routine… it doesn’t involve thrashing yourself at the gym, or pounding pavements until you drop to the floor in a